Transcript Meghan Truax - The Spirit of Great Oak

Henry Cowell and Classical
Iranian Music
By: Meghan Truax
Iran
Population
69,515,000
Capital
Tehran; 7,352,000
Language
Persian, Turkic, Kurdish, various local
dialects
Area
1,648,000 square kilometers
(636,296 square miles)
Religion
Shiite and Sunni Muslim
Region
Mountains and deserts
Islam


98% of the population is Muslim which is
evident in culture and music
Basics of Islam:
Founded by Muhammad in 622 CE
 Views based on the Qur’an
 6 main beliefs which include belief in a single,
invisible God as well as angels and the divine
scriptures


Viewed as a lifestyle or faith rather then a
religion
Musical Origins



Music derived from the combination of ancient
Iranian and Persian origins
Musicians generally respected in ancient times
Barbad-inventor of the lute and the beginnings
of the maqam system
System of 7 modes, 30 derivations, and 360 melodies
based on the calendar
 Similar to western Church modes-see next


Originally two types of music: The persian
Classical Tradition and the dastgah
Iranian Classical Music




Today has diversified into many styles including pop
Classically utilizes unique key signatures based on a 24
note scale with 50 cents between tones
Uses the Radif, a collection of short, memorized
melodies called gusheh in seven modes or dastgah
Instruments may include the tombak, the ney, the tar,
and a western violin that may be tuned according to the
gusheh
Tar
•Played with bras
embedded in beeswax
•Central Asian origin
Ney
Tombak
•Reed Flute
•Goblet Drum
•3 Octave Range
•Also known as
Donbak or Dombak
•Main wind instrument
•May be played with
metal rings on fingers
•Solos may last 10
minutes
Iranian Music and other cultures

Belongs to a group of musical cultures derived
from the maqam system
Datsgah in Iran
 Maqam in Arabian and Sephardic Jewish music
 Mugham in Iranian Azeribaijani (ethnic group of
northern Iran)
 Makam in Turkey

Henry Cowell
•Born in 1897 in Menlo Park California
•Began playing the violin at the age of five
•Received little formal education, but began to compose in his
teens
•Attended the U of C Berkley as a protégé under Charles Seeger
•Experimented with tonalities and non-western rhythms,
developed techniques of string piano and tone clusters
•Was the leader in avant-garde composition in the 20s and 30s
•Was arrested on a “morals” charge in 1936 and was imprisoned
for 4 years
•Paroled in 1940 and pardoned in 1942, when his music became
more conservative though he remained progressive
•Traveled to many places, including a 3 month visit to Iran where
he was the guest of Radio Tehran
•Died in 1965 after a series of illness
Homage to Iran by Henry Cowell



Composed after his visit, meant to convey the essence
of the area
Did not attempt to stay true to Iranian music
4 parts

Part 1-Adante Rubato
 Tombak and Violin-traditional Iranian Instruments
 Both instruments played in a westernized manner


Long tones in the violin with some nonwestern embellishments
Duple time in the rhythm section


Dozarbi & Sehzarbi
By Hossein Tehrani
Similar driving rhythmic patterns and tempo
Different techniques used


Rings
Different feel of time

Free form vs western duple
Shootshtari
By Siavosh Zendegani


Same instrument, different style
Short rhythms and wavering notes versus long
clear melodic notes
Works Cited












Information
http://www.classical-music-review.org/reviews/ToTheEast.html
http://www.naxosdirect.com/title/8559193/
http://www.amazon.com/Cowell-Homage-Pieces-CasualDevelopments/dp/B000QQUOYK
http://www.world-beats.com/store/
http://www.duke.edu/~azomorod/tombak.jpg
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_iran.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Henry_Cowell
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/141260/Henry-Cowell
http://www.vi-co.org/pdf/Persian_study-guide_composers-musicians.pdf
http://www.irvl.net/iran-music/









Pictures
http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/album/content.
album/faryad/en_US
http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/country/conten
t.country/iran_344
http://images.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/h/he/he
nry_cowell_playing_string_piano.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mehmooni2.jpg
http://www.mideastweb.org/culture/ney.jpg
http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2419&State_2872=2&Comp
oserId_2872=297
http://www.amazon.com/Dozarbi-Sehzarbi-Tonbak/dp/B001Q1MQ72
http://www.barbadmusic.com/Persian%20Traditional.htm