The word tar, in Persian, means “string.” This word can be found in the names of many of the instruments that musicologists class as chordophones, including setar (“3 strings”), dotar (“2 strings”), ektara (“1 string”), and of course, guitar.
Mohammad Resa Lofti plays the Persian tar
The stringed tar of Iran and Azerbaijan—not to be confused with the North African drum of the same name—is a plucked instrument with 3 double courses of strings, giving a hint to its origin, the 3-string setar mentioned above. While the setar traveled to North India eight centuries ago, eventually developing into the sitar, the tar was adapted from the setar in Iran only three centuries ago. The North Indian sitar and the Iranian tar are both larger and louder than the setar.
The body of the tar has a double bowl carved from a block of mulberry wood, with a thin skin membrane attached as the soundboard. When it is played with the traditional brass plectrum called mezrab, it produces a full, round, yet clearly articulated tone. It can be played as a solo instrument, in an ensemble, or to accompany a singer. As in many music cultures, the instrument’s sound and articulation mimic the vocal singing style, so the tar is played to sound like Persian singing, which employs a distinctive technique of melodic and rhythmic embellishment known as tahrir.
Ramiz Guliyev plays the Azeri tar
In an ensemble, the tar is often played along with the kamancheh, a bowed fiddle that also features a skin soundboard, and the tombak, a goblet-shaped drum. The frets of the tar are made of gut tied on the neck so as to be movable. This allows players to make small adjustments that might be necessary to play in different maqams, or scales.
The Iranian tar thus continues to be fretted like a setar and tuned according to the traditional system of the greater Middle East. During the Soviet rule of Azerbaijan in the 20th century, on the other hand, Azeri music and the Azeri tar adopted the Western equal temperament (piano-like) tuning system.
https://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Tar1.jpg9001200Farhad Bahramihttps://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/logo_w_red_type_52.pngFarhad Bahrami2023-08-29 20:59:412023-09-03 13:42:05The Persian Tar
Kourosh Taghavi is a master of the Iranian setar, a prolific composer, and a teacher of Persian classical music. Based in San Diego since 1984, he has studied under the tutelage of world-renowned virtuosi Mohammad Reza Lotfi and Hossein Alizadeh. These studies have been the source of his unique approach to the art of Iranian music. Taghavi’s passionate and melodic approach to music is the foundation of his many collaborations and recordings with numerous artists, performing both traditional and modern forms of Iranian music. His collaborative projects with master musicians and international and local cultural organizations help fulfill his lifelong commitment to raising awareness of the importance of music in people’s lives.
Kourosh teaches setar and voice throughout California, as well as lecturing, composing original music for plays and pieces based on contemporary Iranian poetry, holding music workshops, and recording. These and numerous other endeavors are expressions of his passionate quest to promote Persian classical music.
Kourosh is a founding member of Namaad Ensemble, with which he has toured throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. His collaborations with renowned master artists such as Hossein Omoumi, poets Robert Bly and Coleman Barks, and prestigious cultural organizations such as the Konya Mystic Music Festival (Turkey), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the San Diego Museum of Art, and the Carlsbad and Del Mar Music festivals are a few highlights of his efforts to introduce Persian classical music and poetry to a broad audience.
As a San Diego State University faculty member, Kourosh taught a course in Persian classical music and oversaw a related thesis.
Kourosh Taghavi teaches the Persian setar. UT hoto by Don Boomer
His ongoing collaboration with the Center for World Music as a teaching artist in residence brings Persian music to schools across San Diego through weekly classes and occasional performances. Kourosh’s curricula provide children with high-quality instruction in Persian classical music and singing. Through age-appropriate lessons, Mr. Taghavi introduces the world of music and rhythm through hands-on music-making in a fun, harmonious environment where children thrive musically and socially.
A parent of two children, Kourosh recognizes the significance of music in early childhood education. Fatherhood inspired Kourosh to explore and compose music for the youngest of audiences, as captured in the album Epiphany by the Namaad Ensemble.
https://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Kourosh-Taghavi.jpg6751200Editorhttps://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/logo_w_red_type_52.pngEditor2023-06-15 16:51:292024-01-31 16:38:38Kourosh Taghavi: Excellence in Persian Classical Music
The Center for World Music celebrates the inaugural season of Songs and Stories: Refugee Artists in San Diego, a CWM project that bridges the distance between San Diego’s refugee population and the general the public through the performing arts.
San Diego County is known as a relocation hub for those fleeing persecution and violence. Over the past year, CWM project volunteers and staff worked with local refugee communities to identify performers and artistic leaders. We then facilitated opportunities for these artists to creatively interface with the public, allowing audiences to become immersed in the traditions, journeys, and voices of those finding refuge in San Diego. Through creative arts the CWM aimed to share refugee experiences and contributions, reduce the social distance between San Diego public and its refugee communities, and encourage support of refugee communities.
During the month of June 2018, 49 musicians performed in three locations across the City of San Diego. The events, which drew large and enthusiastic audiences, were hosted by the San Diego Public Library system.
The Songs and Stories series opened on June 6 with Voices of Hope from Africa at the San Diego Central Library The event featured Matrida Boazi, the Revelation Gospel Band, and Emmanuel Adamson, with the discussion led by Delores Fisher, musician and San Diego State University lecturer.
The next event was Musicians of the Middle East on June 16 at the Logan Heights Branch Library. Featured were Fouad Sawa and the Al-Salam Ensemble, along with Dlan Dary. The discussion was led by Dr. Alex Khalil, neurocomputational ethnomusicologist and project scientist at the University of California, San Diego.
Culminating the series was Transformations Through Rhythm & Word on June 21 at the City Heights/Weingart Library and Performance Annex. The program featured storyteller Ari Honarvar, poet/songwriter Shadi Amini, and Shiffa: Refugee Women’s Drum Circle, lead by Dilkwaz Ahmed, Ari Honarvar, and Christine Stevens. The discussion was led by Vikas Srivastava, musician, author, and advocate of non-violence and social equity.
This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of California Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
This project was also made possible with matching funds from the Peacemakers Fund and through a partnership with the San Diego Public Library system.
Financial support was provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.
https://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Refugee-Womens-Drum-Circle.jpg6281200Lance Nelsonhttps://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/logo_w_red_type_52.pngLance Nelson2018-08-06 15:46:002023-07-27 07:16:18Refugee Artists in San Diego, June 2018
The video report was produced by Mika Kanke and Brian Meyers at Media Arts Center San Diego, with help from Speak City Heights. Thanks to them as well as to the crew at our favorite television station, KPBS, along with our friends at the San Diego Public Library.
https://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Ari-Honarvar-Transformation1.jpg6281200Lance Nelsonhttps://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/logo_w_red_type_52.pngLance Nelson2018-06-29 20:43:082018-10-16 10:11:54Refugee Communities Celebrate World Music Day
The Center for World Music’s upcoming Passport to Worlds of Music series has been featured in the La Jolla Light.
CWM’s new executive director, Monica Emery, said she’s looking forward to introducing more people of all ages to the delights of world music. . . . ‘Our Passport concerts take place in an intimate setting, with the musicians actually walking you through their music, giving you special insights and inviting you to interact with them, as if they were in your living room. You can bring your own wine, and we’ll have some snacks too.’
Read the full article:
https://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Adler-Khaen.jpg6271200Lance Nelsonhttps://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/logo_w_red_type_52.pngLance Nelson2016-02-13 10:51:452018-07-12 11:14:47Stirring Sounds from Thailand, Zimbabwe, Iran
Kourosh Taghavi, master of Persian classical music and pillar of the CWM’s World Music in the Schools program, is featured in an article by Amanda Kelly.
Kourosh Taghavi, instrumentalist, vocalist and Persian classical musician boasts a passionate approach to music that has impacted audiences around the world. His collaborative projects with master musicians and local cultural organizations work to fulfill his lifelong dream to promote Persian classical music. . . . “It is a very holistic approach to music instead of just notation and sounds,” he says. “Your daily life is so attached to your music and your music is so attached to your daily life they are almost inseparable.”
The San Diego Participant Observer is published online by the Worldview Project. It is a great source for keep up-to-date on cultural goings on in San Diego and environs. Thanks to Tom Johnston-O’Neill and the dedicated crew at the Worldview Project for their support of World Music in the Schools and other Center for World Music projects!
https://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/KTaghavi1.jpg370900Lance Nelsonhttps://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/logo_w_red_type_52.pngLance Nelson2015-03-13 09:13:032021-08-03 10:38:07Spotlight: Persian Classical Musician, Kourosh Taghavi
We are pleased to announce our 2024 Concert Season with two exciting series. The first series, Sound of the Border | Sonido de la Frontera, will be held at Mingei International Museum. The series is inspired by a Mingei exhibit, La Frontera, and will delve into the vibrant cultural landscape of the U.S.-Mexico border. The second series, Mesmerizing Melodies from Three Ancient Lands, held at the La Jolla Community Center, will showcase the cross-cultural exchange of musical ideas between three distant lands along ancient trade routes.
Tickets
General Seating: $35 – $40
VIP Seating: $50 – $55
General Admission Series Pass: $100
VIP Series Pass: $145
Tickets to concerts in the Sound of the Border | Sonido de la Frontera series include admission to the performance and access to Mingei International Museum’s Gallery Level ($14 value) after 4 PM on the day of the performance. The Commons Level is free for all.
Please purchase your tickets early. These performances sell out well in advance. Tickets are transferrable but non-refundable.
Sound of the Border | Sonido de la Frontera
Mingei International Museum – 7:30 PM
Sound of the Border | Sonido de la Frontera is a concert series centered around the vibrant cultural dynamism along the U.S.-Mexico border. Inspired by the ‘La Frontera’ exhibit at Mingei International Museum, this series explores the essence of this borderland represented by three musical traditions.
In this border region music acts as a powerful form of social and cultural activism and as a way to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of inhabitants on both sides of la frontera. Sonido de la Frontera is dedicated to highlighting the role of music as a transformative and unifying force.
Audiences who take this musical journey will resonate with the stories, the resilience, and the distinctive yet interconnected human experiences that define this unique cultural space.
In this concert series we explore three traditions that have exchanged musical ideas for at least a thousand years along ancient trade routes from Western China through Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and North Africa all the way to Morocco and Southern Spain.
Throughout this huge area of the globe, melody is king. We will be treated to the incredibly virtuosic melodies of South Indian classical (Carnatic) music; the haunting, emotionally charged melodies of Persian classical music; and the extraordinarily subtle, delicate elaboration of “microtonal” melodies in Turkish classical music.
Each performance in this series promises an immersive odyssey into the very nature of melody and its ability to touch the human heart and fill the souls of listeners, no matter where in the world they come from.
Namad Ensemble: A Performance in Dastgâh Segâh and Dastgâh Nava
La Jolla Community Center
Friday, May 10, 2024 | 7:30 PM
Join us for an unforgettable evening of classical Persian music featuring Pejman Hadadi on percussion, Saeed Kamjoo on the kamânche, and Kourosh Taghavi on the setâr. Dive into these timeless melodies and intricate rhythms as we explore the rich cultural heritage of this captivating musical tradition.
Tickets
General Seating: $35
VIP Seating: $50
General Admission Series Pass: $100
VIP Series Pass: $145
Please purchase tickets online. These performances sell out well in advance. Tickets are transferrable but non-refundable.
Kourosh Taghavi Kourosh Taghavi is a master of the setar, a prolific composer, and a teacher of Persian classical music. Based in San Diego since 1984, he has studied under the tutelage of the world-renowned virtuosi Mohammad Reza Lotfi and Hossein Alizadeh. These studies have been the source of his unique approach to the art of Iranian music.
Taghavi’s passionate and melodic approach to music is the foundation of his many collaborations and recordings with numerous artists, performing both traditional and modern forms of Iranian music. His collaborative projects with master musicians and international and local cultural organizations help fulfill his lifelong commitment to raising awareness of the importance of music in people’s lives.
Kourosh teaches setar and voice throughout California, as well as lecturing, composing original music for plays and pieces based on contemporary Iranian poetry, holding music workshops, and recording. These and numerous other endeavors are expressions of his passionate quest to promote Persian classical music. As a San Diego State University faculty member, Kourosh taught a course in Persian classical music and oversaw a related thesis. His ongoing collaboration with the Center for World Music as a teaching artist in residence brings Persian music to schools across San Diego through weekly classes and occasional performances.
Kourosh is also a founding member of Namaad Ensemble, with which he has toured throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. His collaborations with renowned master artists such as Hossein Omoumi, poets Robert Bly and Coleman Barks, and prestigious cultural organizations such as the Konya Mystic Music Festival (Turkey), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the San Diego Museum of Art, and the Carlsbad and Del Mar Music festivals are a few highlights of his efforts to introduce Persian classical music and poetry to a broad audience.
A parent of two children, Kourosh recognizes the significance of music in early childhood education. Fatherhood inspired Kourosh to explore and compose music for the youngest of audiences, as captured in the album Epiphany by the Namaad Ensemble.
Pejman Hadadi Pejman Hadadi is a highly innovative Iranian percussionist renowned for his expertise in tombak and daf, traditional Persian percussion instruments. His musical journey began at the age of 10 under the guidance of the masters Assadollah Hejazi and Bahman Rajabi. Immigrating to the US in 1989, Hadadi embarked on a professional career in 1991, collaborating with various ensembles and ultimately joining the acclaimed Dastan Ensemble in 1995. In 2000, he co-founded ZARBANG, the first Iranian percussion ensemble, which received international recognition.
Hadadi’s collaborations extend globally, including performances with renowned musicians and exploration of rhythms from diverse cultures. His distinct contributions to tombak playing include innovative techniques and the creation of custom frame drums. Notable achievements include a collaboration with REMO, enhancing the popularity of the daf worldwide. Beyond his performing career, Hadadi is an accomplished teacher, receiving the Durfee Foundation Master Musician Award twice. He founded the Neyreez World Music Institute in 1999 and currently serves as a visiting professor at UCLA’s Department of Ethnomusicology.
Saeed Kamjoo
Saeed Kamjoo, a skilled composer and kamanche player, adeptly merges tradition with innovation in his music. While deeply rooted in Persian classical music, Kamjoo explores new realms, uncovering fresh possibilities in his kamanche playing. He trained rigorously under masters like A. Kamkar, A. Shekarchi, and Ustad A. Bahari.
Having graduated from the University of Tehran, he delved into the study of old Persian musical manuscripts and ancient rhythmic modes. Kamjoo has showcased his talents in international festivals across North America and Europe, including appearances at Sound Symposium in Canada and Sacra Musica Festival in Germany. Since immigrating to Montreal in 1997, he has collaborated with creative ensembles worldwide and received grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.
This is the second concert of the series Mesmerizing Melodies from Three Ancient Lands.Click here to join our newsletter for more information about upcoming concerts.
Financial support was provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.
https://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Namad-Ensemble1.jpg6711200Edoardo Cavallerohttps://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/logo_w_red_type_52.pngEdoardo Cavallero2023-12-20 15:15:352024-02-29 16:11:12Namad Ensemble: A Performance in Dastgâh Segâh and Dastgâh Nava
