Iran Classical Music

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 13, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Smithsonian Folkways
• ASIN: B000001DI0
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,226 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #24 in Music > World Music > Middle East > Iran
  • #67 in Music > World Music > Middle East > Arabic

Editorial Reviews

Ella Zonis Mahler’s compilation of these Iranian classical music performers was originally issued on Folkways Records in 1966. Ten of the twelve model melodic patterns (dastgahs) are represented here, in a variety of instrumental and vocal performances.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Incomplete reissue, August 2, 2006

By 

Charlie Brown "djholman2002" (Mars, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iran Classical Music (Audio CD)

I have the original two vinyl albums from which these recordings were taken. Together with Ella Zonis' book, they were very helpful in introducing me to traditional Persian music, as well as being hugely entertaining. They received high praise from ethnomusicologists at the time (late 1960s/early 1970s). So why were only a little over half of the tracks reissued? Recordings of this quality and historical importance certainly deserve a 2-CD set, with possible additions from the original source tapes. Other than the beautiful cover painting, this is a disappointing reissue. Original albums would get 5 stars.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For the Archives, January 6, 2009

By 

Dr. Debra Jan Bibel "World Music Explorer" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Iran Classical Music (Audio CD)

The original two LP anthology of 1966 had the intention of providing a representative survey of the entire dastgah mode system, and at that period, when world music was a tiny section in record shops and of interest mainly to ethnomusicologists and people from a given country, the Folkways records were very fine. But this CD reissue fails the mission by leaving out two, albeit little played, dastgah: Rast-panjgah and Nava. A third missing track is a drum solo. While the solo performances of the musicians (Ahmad Ebadi, setar and tar; Asghar Baharai, kamancheh; Hohamad Heydari, santour; Houshang Zarif, tar; Hassan Kassayi, nei; Ali Tajvidi, violin; Nasser Efetah, drum; Hossein Fakhei and Khatereh Parvanhel, voice) are excellent indeed, the audio quality is not especially good by standards of today. Some tracks are tinny or flat and distant. If you are a serious collector, then, yes, this CD is certainly worthy; otherwise, I suggest that any more recent recording of Iranian music will provide a better introduction.

8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Music!, February 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Iran Classical Music (Audio CD)

Three of the ten tracks have vocals and the remaining seven are all solos. They feature the setar, santour, kamancheh, tar, and nei. I found the vocals to be annoying at times but please take note that I'm not a fan of vocals in general and am perfectly happy skipping those songs without regretting the purchase of the CD. I liked all the instrumentals very much even though they seemed repetitive at times. The santour solo is especially good and I was disappointed to find that there was only one. That solo was the specific reason I bought the CD. The nei solo is haunting and the three tar solos are all very satisfying. For the most part, this music is subtle and serene but I've found that I can't listen to it without inadvertently thinking about it. I can't use this one as background music. :-)