Ghashang Kamkar
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Ghashang Kamkar (Kurdish: Qeşeng Kamkar, Persian: قشنگ کامکار , born 1953) is a Kurdish musician from Iran.
She is the only female member of the musical group Kamkarha, composed of her seven brothers and her, all of whom are exceptional musicians. Born in Sanandaj, Iran, Ghashang learned to play the Setar from her father, Hassan Kamkar, and later from musical masters such as Saeed Hormozi, Mohammad Reza Lotfi and Hossein Alizadeh.She also plays the violin. She now teaches Setar to the growing number of Iranian women who are interested in becoming musicians.
[edit] The Kamkars
Along with her seven brothers, Ghashang is a member of the Kamkars group. They are "a Kurdish family of seven brothers and a sister, are undeniably one of the leading musical ensembles in Iran today. Their repertoire ranges from the vast array of Kurdish music with its poignant, entrancing melodies and uplifting high energy rhythms to the traditional classical music of Iran. The repertoire of Kurdish music is richly diverse and deeply-rooted in the ancient history and culture of its proud and passionate people. It speaks of epic tales and wars, romantic love, and recounts ancient myths and stories of national and religious heroes, some of which date back to thousands of years to the time of the ancient Medes (the ancestors of the Kurds)."[1]
The names of the other seven members of the Kamkar family are as follows:
- Arsalan Kamkar: plays the Violin and the Oud
- Pashang Kamkar: plays the Santour
- Hooshang Kamkar: composer
- Arjang Kamkar: plays the Tonbak
- Ardeshir Kamkar: plays the Kamancheh and Gheichak
- Ardavan Kamkar: plays the Santour
- Bijan Kamkar: plays the Daf, the Dohol and the Rabab. He also sings.
