Mohammad-Reza Shajarian

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Mohammad Reza Shajarian

Shajarian at a concert in London
Background information
Birth name Mohammad Reza Shajarian
Born September 23, 1940 (1940-09-23) (age 69)
Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, Iran
Origin Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, Iran
Genres Traditional Persian Music
Occupations Composer, Singer, University Professor
Years active 1959 – present
Website www.delawaz.com

Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (Persian: محمد رضا شجريان) (born September 23, 1940 in Mashhad, Iran) is an internationally and critically acclaimed Persian traditional singer, composer and ostad (master) of Persian music.[1][2][3] He has been called "Iran's greatest living master of traditional Persian music."[4] Shajarian is also known for his skills in Persian calligraphy, and humanitarian activities.

Shajarian has collaborated with Parviz Meshkatian, Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Hossein Alizadeh, and Faramarz Payvar. He is recognised as skilled singer in the challenging traditional Dastgah style. In 1999 UNESCO in France presented him with the Picasso Award.

Contents

[edit] Early work

Shajarian studied singing at the early age of five under the supervision of his father, and at the age of twelve, he began studying the traditional classical repertoire known as the Radif. Shajarian started his singing career in 1959 at Radio Khorasan, rising to prominence in the 1960s with his distinct style of singing. Since then his career has included teaching at Tehran University's Department of Fine Arts, working at National Radio and Television, researching Iranian music, and making numerous recordings.

[edit] Music groups

Shajarian has not always been in music groups, but he currently does the vocals for the Masters of Persian Music with his son Homayoun Shajarian, as well as two other ostads, Keyhan Kalhor and Hossein Alizadeh.

In 2008, he toured the world with the Ava Ensemble, composed of his son Homayoun (tombak and vocals), Hossein Behroozinia (barbat), Majid Derakhshani (tar), Hossain Rezaeenia (daf), and Saeed Farajpouri (kamanche).[5]

[edit] Significant Works

[edit] Masters

Shajarian studied with the ostads Esmaeil Mehrtash and Ahmad Ebadi, and learned the vocal styles of singers from previous generations, including Reza Gholi Mirza Zelli, Fariborz Manouchehri, Ghamar Molouk Vaziri, Eghbal Azar , and Taj Isfahani. He started playing the santour under the instruction of Jalal Akhbari in order to better understand and perform the traditional repertoire, and in 1960, he became the pupil of Faramarz Payvar. He studied under the guidance of master Abdollah Davami, from whom he learned many early Persian songs. Abdollah Davami also passed on to Shajarian his own interpretation of the Radif.

[edit] Bam Art Garden project

After the 2003 Bam earthquake, Shajarian initiated a project to help the people of Bam. He also performed concerts in support of people of Bam.

[edit] 2009 election protest

Shajarian has indicated support for Iranians protesting against the 12 June 2009 Iranian presidential election results. When Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad referred to the protesters as "dust and trash", Shajarian told a BBC BBC Persian channel telephone interviewer that he (Shajarian) considered himself the voice of dust and trash: "It is the voice of dust and trash and it will always remain the voice of dust and trash." He also asked IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) to stop broadcasting his songs. He mentioned that his famous song "Iran, Ey Saraye Omid" (Iran, the land of Hope), has no relation with the current situation of his country.

Lyrics of his song "Language of Fire," issued in September 2009, — "Lay down your gun, Come, sit down, talk, hear. Perhaps the light of humanity will get through to your heart too" — are thought by some observers to speak "directly to the plainclothes Basiji militiamen and security forces" who beat protesters during recent unrest.[4]

[edit] Awards and distinctions

  • Nushin medal (2008)
  • The UNESCO award - the UNESCO Mozart Medal[6] (2006)
  • Nominated for Grammy award in Best World Music (2006)
  • Nominated for Grammy award in Best World Music (2004)
  • Iran’s best classical vocalist (2000)
  • Golden Picasso Medal (1999), one of UNESCO's highest honors
  • National radio and television golden cup (1977)
  • Prize presented by Turkish parliament speaker (1976)

[edit] Notable students

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Master of Persian Classical Music: Mohammad Reza Shajarian
  2. ^ Mohammad Reza Shajarian
  3. ^ Asia Society
  4. ^ a b IRAN: Famous singer Shajarian decries 'Language of Fire,' September 6, 2009 Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran and Borzou Daragahi in Beirut
  5. ^ http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastlife/story.html?id=5bf0c258-be0c-43d5-aa57-4fe6613b6e6c
  6. ^ روزنا

[edit] Sources

  • Laudan Nooshin, in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, edited by Stanley Sadie, second edition (Macmillan, London, 2001). ISBN 1-56159-239-0. (Oxford University Press, 2001). ISBN 0-19-517067-9.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad-Reza_Shajarian"