February 6, 2010

Four outstanding young Persian Classical musicians have formed Azadeh Ensemble in memory of Iranian iconic figures like Qamar to raise their voice in support of bravery, justice and freedom. Azadeh Ensemble, a rarity in Persian music due to its all female performers, has joined professional women musicians to give a new voice and dimension to the traditional form of Persian music. The ensemble features musicians trained in Iran by the masters of Persian music who now live in North America. The musicians include the gifted young singer Sepideh Raissadat, well known for her exquisite vocal interpretations of Persian poetry, and Sahba Motallebi, the remarkable tar player, celebrated internationally for the vigor and clarity of her playing on this lute-like instrument. Joining them are virtuoso kamancheh player and violist Laya Etemadi, and Bahareh Moghtadaei on the tombak (drum). In the last part of this performance, the ensemble will be joined by the brilliant Oud player Negar Booban as the guest artist.

The works performed by the ensemble are drawn from the traditional Persian music repertoire with its origins in the 14th-16th century pre-Safavid Iran. It is based on the Dastgah system representing a musical organization in which a certain number of melodies are regrouped and ordered in relation to a dominant mode. Improvisations play an important part, and the singer performs poetic works that are mostly romantic, epic and spiritual in nature, using the older works of masters such as Sheyda, Aaref, Amirjahed and the Sufi poet Rumi, as well as that of more contemporary poets and composers.

The program Azadeh Enemble is performing is in 4 parts, of which the first and second are Classical-based compositions by Sahba and Sepideh, the third is a composition by late Parviz Meshkatian and the last part is mainly written in the earlier part of the 20th century, which still deeply touches the hearts of Iranian music lovers and those concerned with human liberty and free expression, as it concerns women’s lives, hopes and reconciliation. The deeply moving and evocative music ranges from meditative, to energetic and ecstatic.