The classical music of
Iran traces its heritage to ancient Persia and,
partly because of the segregation imposed by
Islamic constraints on music, preserves older
musical practices. This music is based on a
series of melodic patterns known as "dastgah"(= system). The dastgah are based on
modes that may incorporate microtonal intervals
smaller than the half step. Performances
emphasize improvisation on the patterns of the
dastgah, primarily in free rhythm.
The vocal style of
classical Iranian music is distinct from other
near-eastern Islamic cultures. Vocal
compositions are sung in a fixed melodic mode,
but in a rhythm that is neither fixed nor free.
Instead the singer follows the poetic meter,
based on patterns of long and short syllables,
and brings out the meter through the use of
vocal ornamentation such as the "tahrir", a
rapid shifting between tones above and below the
primary pitch. The tahrir is used several times
in this excerpt.
Salamati-ye Shah
(Persian: سلامتی
شاه, Translation: Well-being of the King)
has been the first national anthem of Persia
(Iran) since the time of Mozzafar al-Din
Shah Qajar until 1933, when it was replaced
by Sorood-e Shahanshahi Iran, which praised the
Pahlavis. The music was composed by French
military musician Alfred Jean Baptiste
Lemaire. The new lyrics are by Bijan
Taraqhi who was asked by Peyman Soltani,
the leader of the Nations Orchestra of Iran, to
write a poem for the old national anthem. Here
is the latest performance of the anthem by
Darya Dadvar:
Iranian
music