History of Music in Iran (from ancient times until the 1978 revolution)
Iranian music is one of the most ancient auditory treasures in the world, and historical documents are proof of its authenticity, richness, and impact on the songs of other lands. However, given the numerous historical vicissitudes and the constraints and problems of the recent centuries, there have been some ambiguities to clearly draw the relationship between current songs and the ancient musical heritage of this land.
What is known today as Iranian music is the remnants of songs from the Qajar era, which have been handed down to us in the form of various Iranian music Dastgah (musical modal systems). Of course, cultural, social, and political revolutions that have taken place throughout this time have been influential in the way these songs are performed.
Familiarizing oneself with the history of music in Iran from ancient times up to now will provide a clearer image of the status of this music on the world stage, and it will pave the way for a deeper and better understanding of Iranian musical features.
This educational course reviews the most prominent historical reformations and their impact on Iranian music, and it will describe and elaborate on the changes that music in Iran has gone through as follows:
- Musical and performing features in each era
- The dominant content of Tasnifs (Persian equivalent of ballads) and songs
- Influential figures in each era and reviewing their prominent works
For some specific historical eras, it may be deemed necessary to invite expert researchers for that era and hold separate workshops.
The sessions of this course are arranged in 28 hours, in the following order:
Expand/Collapse All- Ancient times and pre-Islam era
- Post-Islam up to Qajar era
- The role of religious music in safeguarding Iranian music
- Turning of Maghami music into Dastgah music
- Music in the court of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar and the most prominent composers and singers of the Qajar era
- Farahani family and the composition of Radif (collection of old melodic figures) in the music of Iran
- Tasnif in the Qajar era (performing examples from Ali Akbar Sheida and others)
- The impact of western music on Iranian music (entering of western instruments, establishing the Nezam music branch in the Darolfonoon High School, influential figures: Darvish Khan and Moshir Habibollah Homayoun Shahrdar)
- Beginning of recording gramophone records
- Liberal and nationalistic motives in Tasnifs
- Influential figures: Aref Qazvini, Darvish Khan, Mohammad-Taqi Bahar, widely known as Malek osh-Sho’arā Bahār, and others) – performing some of their works
- The impact of social reformations on the way music was performed (the first concerts by Anjoman-e Okhovat – e. Society of Brotherhood)
- Establishing official music institutes (music schools, The Music Office, Iran Music Association)
- Reforming music education
- Composing anthems for schools
- Holding concerts in Tehran and some other major cities
- Prominent figures:
- Ali-Naqi Vaziri (making common the notion of national music, and composing the first educational methods for music in Iran),
- Ruhollah Khaleqi
- Qamar-ol-Moluk Vaziri
Establishing Radio
- Variety of music genres and their promulgation in Iranian music (traditional, Golha, orchestral, and Iranian pop)
- Music on television and radio
Golha program (radio program with about 847 hours of music and poetry broadcast)
- Music and cinema in Iran
- Music and Lalehzar Street
- Ministry of Art and Culture
- Late 40s (Solar Calendar) and the growth of conservatism in Iranian music (return to Qajar traditions) (The Center for Preserving and Disseminating Traditional Iranian Music, Shiraz and Tous Arts Festival)
- The turbulent atmosphere of the 1978 revolution, protesting and liberal motives in music (Chavosh group)
- This period is dedicated to what became of various intellectual orientations in Iranian music in the years following the Islamic Revolution, and the prominent figures of those times. The ups and downs of Iranian music will be reviewed in the following four main periods:
- Banning of music in the first years following the Islamic Revolution
- Period of limitation (from the 60s (Solar Calendar) (Iran-Iraq War) until the second half of 70s)
- Relative freedom in performing music and going back to the pop music of the 50s (the second half of 70s until late 80s)
- The spread of consumer music and the impact of social media on how music is performed in Iran (the 90s until now)