Mastering the language of music

Young Chang

While the language between the United States and the Middle East

is riddled with words like “war” and “mass destruction” these days,

four musicians from Iran hope to speak a lovelier and more universal

language during the Eclectic Orange Festival.

“Music is a language between the nations and it’s the unified

language between the nations,” said Kayhan Kalhor, translating for

Hossein Alizadeh, the vocalist and the Iranian lute player of The

Masters of Persian Music. “We’re trying to be a part of that network

and send our message across as musicians from another culture.”

Their vernacular comes from four generations, as each of the

members of The Masters of Persian Music are more than 10 years apart

in age. The melodies that they weave speak both of an ancient Persia

-- the spiritualism and poetics of the time -- as well as the

techniques of modern musicians trying to be both contemporary yet

respectful of their past.

Mohammad Reza Shajarian is considered one of Iran’s national

treasures as a singer. He is the 1999 recipient of UNESCO’s Picasso

Medal and has been named the “Best Classical Vocalist” by the

Ministry of Culture in Iran. He is 62.

Alizadeh, whose instrument is the tar (the Iranian lute), has

played with the National Orchestra of Iran as well as conducted for

the Iranian National Radio and Television Orchestra. He was named the

“Best Contemporary Artist” by the Ministry of Culture in 2000. He is

50.

Kalhor, who plays the kamancheh (also known as the spike fiddle),

was considered a child prodigy and has performed not only with Iran’s

greatest musicians, but written commissioned works for the Kronos

Quartet and Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project. He is 38.

Homayoun Shajarian is Mohammad Reza Shajarian’s son. He plays the

tombac (the goblet drum) and has studied at the Tehran Conservatory

of Music. He is 27.

It’s no wonder that when they perform together, as they will

Sunday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, they are called

masters. The concert is part of the Eclectic Orange Festival.

“I think you get the perspective of each generation’s own

language,” said Kalhor, the only band member who speaks fluent

English. “You’re hearing four different generations in their own

voice.”

Their music, as evident on the just released Masters of Persian

Music debut CD called “Without You,” offers a modern take on

traditional Persian music. The spiritualism and poetry of the ancient

music is there, in both the sound and the lyrics.

But in contrast to very traditional Persian music, which

emphasizes mostly the voice, the music of these four experts shines

the spotlight on the instrumentals as well.

“In the past 60 or 70 years there have been several prominent

figures in Persian music. They try to work on the instrumental aspect

of Persian music mostly,” said Alizadeh, who was translated by

Kalhor. “There were conservatories open and centers to preserve music

... which also put more stress on developing the Persian instrumental

music. As a result of that, the instrumental music has found its own

position as well, and obviously has its own listeners.”

An integral part of Persian music, and all Iranian culture in

fact, is literature and poetry, Alizadeh added. The poetry of Sufism,

a form of Islamic mysticism, plays a large part in the Masters’

music.

“The whole culture is shaded with spiritualism, if you will,”

Kalhor said. “It’s not separable from the ideas of the whole

culture.”

More Americans are becoming interested in Persian music, said

Mohammad Reza Shajarian, with Kalhor translating. The group’s 2001

tour around the United States saw sold out performances all 14 times.

Their Eclectic engagement is part of another U.S. tour this year.

“Although our musical tradition hasn’t been known to the American

public for a very long time, we feel that it is greatly appreciated,”

he said.