Music and Song in Persia: The Art of Avaz (Persian Art and Culture) [Hardcover]

Lloyd Miller (Author)

Book Description

Series: Persian Art and Culture | Publication Date: August 1999

The art of Persian singing (AVAZ) is unsurpassed in delicacy of expression and grace. This book is the first full-length analysis of Persian singing theory and practice, demonstrating the centrality of Persian elements in the music of the Islamic Middle Ages, their relevance to both contemporary and traditional Iranian music, and their interaction with classical Persian poetry and metrics. Based on seven years of exacting practice and performance by the author in pre-revolution Iran, MUSIC AND SONG IN PERSIA is comprehensive in its treatment of instrumental and vocal music. It discusses song content, the influence of pre-Islamic philosophy and imagery, the history of Persian music, current preservation efforts, the structure of traditional music, and performance practices. All songs are translated, with musical annotation, and there are also illustrated appendices on instrumentation, masters, and artists.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lloyd Miller (Ph.D.) is an ethnomusicologist who teaches Middle Eastern music at Brigham Young University and directs a jazz combo at the University of Utah.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 360 pages
• Publisher: University of Utah Press (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874806143
• ISBN-13: 978-0874806144
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,488,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great overview of Persian traditional music, January 10, 2007

By 

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

This review is from: Music and Song in Persia: The Art of Avaz (Persian Art and Culture) (Hardcover)

It is with great pleasure that I recommend this book by my old friend Lloyd Miller. He and I performed Persian folk music in Los Angeles in 1988 and I have fond memories of that concert. He was working on his dissertation at that time and it's wonderful to see it published. My only complaint is that it is very difficult to find. No surprise to see that he has done an excellent job of surveying this unique and beautiful tradition, which is so difficult to describe in Western terminology. Some parts of the book are quite technical, and will be rather formidable for beginners. Ethnomusicologists with a special interest in the Middle East will be delighted. Ella Zonis' 1973 tome "Classical Persian Music" might be somewhat easier going for the novice, but it is also tough to locate ... try a good library. Lloyd Miller's book is an indispensible tool and companion for those of us who heve learned to love this music. Bravo!

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive; thorough; complete, August 11, 2002

By 

joel417 (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music and Song in Persia: The Art of Avaz (Persian Art and Culture) (Hardcover)

The author shares his vast knowledge of this esoteric subject. I would have liked to have seen more on the interplay of the 'ghazals' of Hafez as they relate to avaz. The role of the American Peace Corps professional musicians in Iran during the 1960s and 1970s should have been discussed.