| * What form of folklife these workshops ( Tasnifkhani ) would focus on. |
| The instruction of Persian Classical Vocal Music. Iranian classical music is based on a series of modal scales and tunes. It is a highly complex system with more than 200 short melodic motions (guše), classified into seven modes (dastgāh). This whole system is called Radif. Persian Vocal music, like the rest of Persian classical music, is learned through oral tradition via a master. The “Radif of Iranian music” was officially included in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009, described as “the traditional repertoire of the classical music of Iran”. |
| * What is the history of the form of folklife these workshops would focus on. |
| Persian Classical music, as it is practiced today, was codified during Iran’s Qajar era. While the Radif is a highly technical and specific system of music, it has also been shaped and influenced by folk cultures of Iran and its neighboring nations. The roots of this system go back to Iran’s Sasanian era. Furthermore, the Radif system is an extension and development of the Maqam system of prior years. In modern times, Iranian music development has been influenced by western melodic systems as well. Vocals and singing in Persian Classical music is very important. However, they require advanced study to be able to not only sing traditional songs expertly, but to be able to improvise and compose within a particular dastgah. The capacity and skill of vocalists to deeply understand the dastgahs and so to be able to improvise and compose within them is essential to keeping Classical Persian music a living form that evolves and develops in contemporary times. |
| * The current communities participating in these workshops. |
| Persian Classical Vocal Music is practiced by professionals and amateurs both within and outside Iran. In the Washington, D.C. area, we have been leading communities of Iranian immigrants and Iranians of the diaspora in music workshops. In this context, members of the community come together on a weekly basis to learn and practice songs and poetry. As students learn, they also have the opportunity to perform at seasonal gatherings and celebrations. It has been important to me to give non-musicians access to high quality music and cultural education. Our classes ( Setar or Vocal ) are either private or in a group and are organized into three levels – elementary, intermediate and advanced. The elementary level usually covers the basic general music theory and practice such as Solfeggi and ear training. In the intermediate level we expand the music theory and practice to the Persian traditional level by introducing quarter notes, the Modal vs Tonal music styles, Dastgah vs Scales, Gushes and the Radif concepts. Also in the intermediate level students learn the basics of Persian Classical music in theory through the practice of singing the old traditional songs (Tasnif Khani ). PACC has been following this path since 2015. |
| * What is the experience of the master participating in this form of folklife? |
| Darab Shabahang learned Persian Classical music in Tehran in the 1980’s at Kanoon Chang institute with apprenticeship of Master Hamid Motebassem (now living in Germany and founder of Dastan Ensemble) and with Masters Jalal Zolfonooun, Mohamad Firoozi, Hematti and others. He continued to study this tradition not only as a specialized, professional musician but also with the hope of conveying these teachings to a broader audience through my community-based workshops . These workshops are a bridge between people who have never learned music, to those who are studying professionally. He have trained students who are ready to participate in the Persian Vocal Music apprenticeship program. Recently Darab Shabahang has been teaching an introductory Persian Vocal Music course at Montgomery College’s Rockville Campus (Fall semester 2019, Spring and Summer semesters 2020). Students are prequalified and encouraged to enroll for the one-on-one Radif-Khani or Classical Vocal Apprenticeship with master. PACC ( Persian Arts and Cultural Communities) which Darab Shabahang is the founder and president, has been providing Persian Vocal Workshops since 2015 in Maryland. Students become familiar with traditional Persian music in theory and practice. They sing songs related to the seven Dastgahs in classical music every month, singing four songs in a particular Dastgah. |
| * The skill set for running this form of folklife. |
| Skills and topics in Classical Persian Music include: The advanced theory of 7 Dastgahs (including quarter notes intervals, theories about Maqams and Dastgahs and the Radifs) Radif Khani (Isfahan vocal school, within which Master Shajarian works.) or Rafdif Navazi ( Mirza Abdollah Radif by Setar ) going through 200 Gushes of the Radif from the 7 Dastgahs and 5 Avazes. This practice takes 6 months to one year depending on the individual learner. Persian vocal Tahrir and other advanced vocal techniques. Zarb Khani (theory and practice for rhythmic vocals ) Saz-o-Avaz : traditional practice for Vocals and Instruments (Setar and Tonbak ) performing together. Morakab Khani ( Modulation): the ability to compose a new traditional song using the appropriate Gushes of certain Dastgah and Avaz Traditional Persian Vocal Improvisation |
| * Official or unofficial recognitions we have received for participating in this form of folklife. |
| PACC has been teaching and performing classical Persian music for many years. In recent years, He had the opportunity to perform and lead students in performance in various contexts including: Solfege; Voice and Ear training, Persian Traditional Music theory the Dastgah, Radif and Gusheh, application of these theories in traditional songs called Tasnif, Persian music history and more. Teaching the language and aestheics of Persian Music is what we are trying to achive . Follwing are few samples of performances by students of PACC PACC Spring Festivall 2019 PACC Fall Festivall 2019 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Diversity Celebration (2018) Sandy Spring Museum 2018 PACC Spring Festivall 2018 PACC Fall Festivall 2018 Middle Eastern American Heritage Month Celebration of Spring. PACC NOWRUZ MUSIC PERFORMANCE-March 22, 2017 Iranian Cultural Immersion Night through Literature, Poetry and Music: Crofton Library Date/Time: Monday, August 7, 2017 – 6:30pm UNESCO Peace Festival (2016) IAAP SCHOLARSHIP AWARD in Rockville MD. January 14 2016 Lorton Elementary School (2016) And many more… |