Henry Cowell and Henry Cowell and Classical Iranian MusicClassical Iranian Music

By: Meghan TruaxBy: Meghan Truax

IranIranPopulation69,515,000CapitalTehran; 7,352,000LanguagePersian, Turkic, Kurdish, various local dialectsArea1,648,000 square kilometers(636,296 square miles)ReligionShiite and Sunni Muslim RegionMountains and deserts

IslamIslam

98% of the population is Muslim which is 98% of the population is Muslim which is evident in culture and musicevident in culture and music

Basics of Islam:Basics of Islam: Founded by Muhammad in 622 CEFounded by Muhammad in 622 CE Views based on the Qur’anViews based on the Qur’an 6 main beliefs which include belief in a 6 main beliefs which include belief in a

single, invisible God as well as angels and single, invisible God as well as angels and the divine scripturesthe divine scriptures

Viewed as a lifestyle or faith rather then Viewed as a lifestyle or faith rather then a religiona religion

Musical OriginsMusical Origins

Music derived from the combination of Music derived from the combination of ancient Iranian and Persian originsancient Iranian and Persian origins

Musicians generally respected in ancient Musicians generally respected in ancient timestimes

Barbad-inventor of the lute and the Barbad-inventor of the lute and the beginnings of thebeginnings of the maqam maqam systemsystem System of 7 modes, 30 derivations, and 360 System of 7 modes, 30 derivations, and 360

melodies based on the calendarmelodies based on the calendar Similar to western Church modes-see nextSimilar to western Church modes-see next

Originally two types of music: The persian Originally two types of music: The persian Classical Tradition and the Classical Tradition and the dastgahdastgah

Iranian Classical MusicIranian Classical Music Today has diversified into many styles Today has diversified into many styles

including pop including pop Classically utilizes unique key signatures Classically utilizes unique key signatures

based on a 24 note scale with 50 cents based on a 24 note scale with 50 cents between tonesbetween tones

Uses the Uses the RadifRadif, a collection of short, , a collection of short, memorized melodies called memorized melodies called gushehgusheh in seven in seven modes or modes or dastgahdastgah

Instruments may include the tombak, the ney, Instruments may include the tombak, the ney, the tar, and a western violin that may be the tar, and a western violin that may be tuned according to the tuned according to the gushehgusheh

Ney•Reed Flute

•3 Octave Range

•Main wind instrument

Tar•Played with bras embedded in beeswax

•Central Asian origin

Tombak•Goblet Drum

•Also known as Donbak or Dombak

•May be played with metal rings on fingers

•Solos may last 10 minutes

Iranian Music and other Iranian Music and other culturescultures

Belongs to a group of musical Belongs to a group of musical cultures derived from the cultures derived from the maqammaqam systemsystem DatsgahDatsgah in Iran in Iran MaqamMaqam in Arabian and Sephardic in Arabian and Sephardic

Jewish musicJewish music MughamMugham in Iranian Azeribaijani (ethnic in Iranian Azeribaijani (ethnic

group of northern Iran)group of northern Iran) Makam Makam in Turkeyin Turkey

Henry CowellHenry 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 Homage to Iran by Henry CowellCowell

Composed after his visit, meant to convey the Composed after his visit, meant to convey the essence of the areaessence of the area

Did not attempt to stay true to Iranian musicDid not attempt to stay true to Iranian music 4 parts4 parts

Part 1-Adante RubatoPart 1-Adante Rubato Tombak and Violin-traditional Iranian Tombak and Violin-traditional Iranian

InstrumentsInstruments Both instruments played in a westernized Both instruments played in a westernized

mannermanner Long tones in the violin with some nonwestern Long tones in the violin with some nonwestern

embellishmentsembellishments Duple time in the rhythm sectionDuple time in the rhythm section

Dozarbi & Sehzarbi Dozarbi & Sehzarbi By Hossein TehraniBy Hossein Tehrani Similar driving rhythmic patterns and tempoSimilar driving rhythmic patterns and tempo

Different techniques usedDifferent techniques used RingsRings

Different feel of timeDifferent feel of time Free form vs western dupleFree form vs western duple

Same instrument, different styleSame instrument, different style Short rhythms and wavering notes versus long clear melodic notesShort rhythms and wavering notes versus long clear melodic notes

ShootshtariBy Siavosh Zendegani

Works CitedWorks Cited

InformationInformation http://www.classical-music-review.org/reviews/ToTheEast.html http://www.naxosdirect.com/title/8559193/ http://www.amazon.com/Cowell-Homage-Pieces-Casual-Developme

nts/dp/B000QQUOYK

http://www.world-beats.com/store/ http://www.duke.edu/~azomorod/tombak.jpghttp://www.duke.edu/~azomorod/tombak.jpg http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_iran.

html https://www.cia.gov/library/publication

s/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/

PicturesPictures http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/

page.basic/album/content.album/faryad/en_USpage.basic/album/content.album/faryad/en_US http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic

/country/content.country/iran_344 http://images.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopedia

images/h/he/henry_cowell_playing_string_piano.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mehmooni2.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mehmooni2.jpg http://www.mideastweb.org/culture/ney.jpghttp://www.mideastweb.org/culture/ney.jpg http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?

TabId=2419&State_2872=2&ComposerId_2872=297TabId=2419&State_2872=2&ComposerId_2872=297 http://www.amazon.com/Dozarbi-Sehzarbi-Tonbak/dp/http://www.amazon.com/Dozarbi-Sehzarbi-Tonbak/dp/

B001Q1MQ72B001Q1MQ72 http://www.barbadmusic.com/Persian%20Traditional.htmhttp://www.barbadmusic.com/Persian%20Traditional.htm