Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Dec 24 2006

Iranian music rich but publicity poor, says noted musician

Tehran, Dec 24, IRNA

Noted Iranian musician has said that Iranian music has some of the
best melodies in the world.

Shahin Farhat rejected the views claiming that Iranian music is poor
and devoid of content, pointing out that works by Iranian composers
including Sheida, Aref, Majid Vafadar and Morteza Mahjoubi are
comparable to the works by leading international musicians, wrote
the Sunday edition of the English-language newspaper `Iran Daily.’
Describing inadequate information about Iranian music as one of the
dilemmas facing the sector, he noted, "Our musicians’ activities were
mostly presented orally and nothing has so far been done to introduce
the art to the world." Iranian music can attain a higher status in
the world if it is introduced properly, Farhat said.

Despite the high potentials of Iranian artists, some people in
the world have the impression that Iranian music lacks the art of
composition, he noted.

Commenting on classical music, Farhat added that this type of music
has become vogue since the ninth century concurrent with the advent
of polyphonic music.

Composer of Damavand, Martyrs, and War Disabled symphonies also
pointed out that the life span of this kind of music in Iran goes
back to 80 years.

The above-mentioned symphonies were recently performed to the
accompaniment of Armenian and Ukrainian symphony orchestras.

According to Farhat, Damavand Symphony which symbolizes the might
of the Iranians has been composed in four sections called mental
ascension, beauties of nature, hostility of nature and Damavand,
mountain of might.