Mohammad-Reza Shajarian

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Mohammad Reza Shajarian
Birth name Mohammad Reza Shajarian
Born September 23, 1940 (1940-09-23) (age 67)
Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, Iran
Origin Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, Iran
Genre(s) Traditional Persian Music
Occupation(s) Composer, Singer, University lecturer
Years active 1959 – present
Website www.delawaz.ir
Flyer for Masters of Persian Music concert autographed by Shajarian (from left to right: Alizadeh, Shajarian, Kalhor, and Shajarian's son, Homayoun)
Flyer for Masters of Persian Music concert autographed by Shajarian (from left to right: Alizadeh, Shajarian, Kalhor, and Shajarian's son, Homayoun)
Shajarian at a concert in London
Shajarian at a concert in London

Mohammad Reza Shajarian (Persian: محمد رضا شجريان) (born September 23, 1940 in Mashhad, Iran) is an internationally and critically acclaimed Persian traditional singer, composer and Master (Ostad) of Persian music. A living legend of Persian classical music[1][2][3], Shajarian is also known for his mastery of Persian calligraphy and humanitarian activities.

Shajarian is considered as one of the most celebrated world music artists.[4]His best works has been in collaboration with Parviz Meshkatian, Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Hossein Alizadeh, and Faramarz Payvar. His singing is technically flawless, powerful, and strongly emotional. In Persian classical Dastgah music, singing is the most difficult art to master and Shajarian is the embodiment of the perfect singer and a major source of inspiration. In 1999 UNESCO in France presented him with the prestigious Picasso Award, one of Europe's highest honors.

Contents

[edit] Early work

He studied singing at the early age of five under the supervision of his father, and at the age of twelve, he began studying the traditional classical repertoire known as the Radif. Shajarian started his singing career in 1959 at Radio Khorasan, rising to prominence in the 1960's with his distinct style of singing. Since then, he has had an illustrious career that includes teaching at Tehran University's Department of Fine Arts (among other places), working at National Radio and Television, researching Iranian music, and making numerous important recordings. The great ancient poets of Persia (Iran) have illustrated their feelings, senses and thoughts through poems. One can read, study and really enjoy these poems, but in order to feel the whole greatness one should just listen to the heavenly voice of Shajarian!

[edit] Music Groups

Shajarian concert (UNESCO 2007)
Shajarian concert (UNESCO 2007)

Shajarian has not always been in music groups, but he currently does the vocals for the Masters of Persian Music with his son Homayoun Shajarian, as well as two other masters, Keyhan Kalhor and Hossein Alizadeh.

[edit] Significant Works

[edit] Work eras

It can be said that Shajarian has had different distinct eras in his artistic career of almost 40 years.

The first era was the time he started working in Iran's radio mainly with radio orchestra and mainly with Faramarz Payvar. In 2007 he organized a workshop on Iranian Avaaz. [5]

[edit] Masters

He studied with the great masters Esmaeil Mehrtash and Ahmad Ebadi, and learned the vocal styles of singers from previous generations, including Reza Gholi Mirza Zelli, Ghamar Molouk Vaziri, Eghbal Azar , and Taj Isfahani. He started playing the Santour under the instruction of Jalal Akhbari in order to better understand and perform the traditional repertoire, and in 1960, he became the pupil of Faramarz Payvar. He deployed inspired by the late master vocalist Gholam Hossein Banan. He studied under the guidance of master Abdollah Davami, from whom he learned the most ancient (songs). Abdollah Davami also passed on to Shajarian his own interpretation of the Radif.

[edit] Bam Art Garden project

After 2003 Bam earthquake, Mohammad Reza Shajarian initiated a project to help the people of Bam. He also performed concerts in favor of people of Bam. After years of silence in Iran, his performance for the people of Bam was an outstanding humanitarian step towards his own people. He is widely known and accepted as the Singer of the People.

[edit] Awards and distinctions

  • The UNESCO highest award - the Mozart Medal[6] (2006)
  • Nominated for Grammy award in Best World Music (2006)
  • Nominated for Grammy award in Best World Music (2004)
  • Iran’s best classical vocalist (2000)
  • Golden Picasso Medal (1999), one of Europe's highest honors presented by UNESCO in France.
  • National radio and television golden cup (1977)
  • Prize presented by Turkish parliament speaker (1976)

[edit] Notable students

  • Salar Aghili
  • Sina Sarlak

[edit] On Shajarian

  • "Shajarian is a superstar, the Pavarotti of Persian classical music." –Toronto Globe & Mail[7]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Master of Persian Classical Music: Mohammad Reza Shajarian
  2. ^ Mohammad Reza Shajarian
  3. ^ Asia Society
  4. ^ Shajarian is one of the most important world music artists
  5. ^ BBCPersian.com
  6. ^ روزنا
  7. ^ [1]

[edit] References

  • Laudan Nooshin, in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, edited by Stanley Sadie, second edition (Macmillan, London, 2001). ISBN 1561592390. (Oxford University Press, 2001). ISBN 0195170679.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links