Bijan Mortazavi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bijan Mortazavi
بیژن مرتضوی

Mortazavi performing at a concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2008
Background information
Born (1957-11-16) November 16, 1957
Babol, Mazandaran, Iran
Origin Iranian
Genres Pop
Instrumental
Occupations Violinist
Songwriter
Singer
Composer
Civil Engineer
Instruments Violin
Piano, Guitar
Percussive & Ethnic instruments
Labels Taraneh Records
Avang Records
Caltex Records
Website Bijan Music Online
Notable instruments
White Handmade Violin

Bijan Mortazavi (Persian: بیژن مرتضوی‎),[1] born on November 16, 1957 in Babol, Iran, is a popular Iranian violinist, singer and songwriter.

Biography

Early life

Born in the city of Babol, capital of Babol County, Mazandaran Province, Iran, Mortazavi began playing the violin at the age of three. He attended music in Tehran, he was trained in specific techniques such as improvisation, orchestration, arrangement, quarter tone, and dastgah by some of the very well known violinists in Iran.

Mortazavi started learning the violin under supervision of maestro Masoud Namazian when he was only 3. At the age of seven, he started playing the piano, guitar, percussion, and folklore string instruments, such as oud, tar, and santur.

Mortazavi took Violin lessons from master musicians such as Ali Tajvidi, Parviz Yahaghi, Habibollah Badiei &Jahangir Kamian.

Mortazavi won his first prize at the age of eleven in a national music contest among students of all ages in Iran. He was fourteen when he conducted a thirty-two man orchestra, performing his own compositions and arrangements at the famous Ramsar Summer Camp in Iran.

After high school graduation, Mortazavi moved to the United Kingdom. There, he pursued his academic interest in the field of Civil Engineering while continuing with his performances and violin training.[2]

Early years

In 1977, Mortazavi moved to the United States, continued his music education at Texas State University, and settled in California in 1985. There he started composing and arranging music for Iranian pop singers. He soon became famous as a composer for the songs he composed for the famous Iranian singer Moein he composed many songs for him and played the violin in his concerts. He released his first album "Bijan Mortazavi, his music and his songs" in 1990, which became a best seller among Persian albums that year.[3]

Music career

After the release of his album "Bijan Mortazavi 3" most Iranians considered Mortazavi a talented violinist and singer. His next album, "Fire on Ice (instrumental) which was a combination of Persian violin style and New Age instrumental music brought him fame, yet he never composed a separate instrumental album again. Before the album he produced in 2004, he released two other albums in 1999 and 2001.

In 2004 Bijan released the album "Ye Ghatreh Darya" which was a happy dance album, including a Turkish style track "Ronak". The album soon became famous and has been played many times in Persian weddings and parties.

The 2006 album was a different from a vocal aspect. The lyrics of the songs in this album were written by the famous Iranian poet Iraj Janatie Ataie who writes lyrics for well known Iranian pop singers such as Ebi and Dariush. One of his impressive tracks is "Be man che" which is also the name of the album. The lyrics are very meaningful and Ataie himself declaimed the poetic lyrics at the beginning of the track.[4]

After the album "Fire on Ice," Mortazavi's albums have been a combination of instrumental and vocal pieces. What sets him apart from other performers, is his ability to personally play all the instruments used in his arrangements.

In November 16th, 2010 his latest album "Music and I" was released.

Instrument

Mortazavi is well known for his white handmade violin, which he always uses in his performances. "I like to play my white violin because to me white represents peace and friendship." said Mortazavi in a TV interview.

Concerts

The international tour beginning in 1990 brought Bijan to sold-out audiences throughout the world. In 1995 he has been honored as the first Iranian artist to be sponsored by the Chrysler Corporations.

Greek Theatre and other venues

On July 3, 1994, Bijan Mortazavi the first Iranian performer to display his talent at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. There he performed his music with orchestra for the first time. One of the pieces he played during this concert entitled Epic had been written by him when he was eleven years old. This concert became his best live performance and the video had been released as "Bijan Live at the Greek Theatre".

Bijan also performed in other big venues around the world, among them such as Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the Gibson Amphitheater (aka Universal Amphitheater) in Universal City, California, the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and Highland Center, the Royal Albert Hall, Equinox and Le Palace in London, the Ford Center and Performing Arts Center in Toronto, Queen Elizabeth Auditorium in Vancouver, the Albert Hall in Copenhagen, the Nobel Concert Hall and Global Auditorium in Stockholm, and the Performing Arts Center and Civic Auditoriums in Australia's Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Auckland in New Zealand.

On November 25 of 2009 Bijan received his Fellowship (Phd) from the Southampton Solent University in Great Britain. His task is the development of contemporary middle eastern music in an academic form in United Kingdom and other western countries.

Discography

Studio album

With Caltex Records

  • 1990-The Magic of Bijan Mortazavi his Music and his Songs (Bijan Mortazavi 1)
  • 1992-Bijan Mortazavi 2
  • 1994-Bijan Mortazavi 3 (instrumental album)
  • 1994-Bijan Mortazavi 3 (vocal album)
  • 1997-Fire on Ice (instrumental album)
  • 1997-Fire on Ice (vocal album)
  • 1999-Sweet Scent of Love
  • 2001-Voice of Silence
  • 2004-Yeh Ghatreh Darya
  • 2006-Beh Man Cheh
  • 2010-Music and I

Live Albums

  • 1994-Bijan Live at the Greek Theatre

Music Videos

  • 1994-Bijan Live at the Greek Theatre
  • 2003-Ye Ghatreh Darya From Album 'Ye Ghatreh Darya'
  • 2003-Gerye Konam Ya Nakonam From Album 'Ye Ghatreh Darya'
  • 2003-RONAK From Album 'Ye Ghatreh Darya'
  • 2003-LAVAND From Album 'Ye Ghatreh Darya'
  • 2003-Rainbow From Album 'Ye Ghatreh Darya'
  • 2004-Bijan in concert
  • 2005-Be man Che From Album 'Be man Che'
  • 2005-Ey Maah From Album 'Be man Che'
  • 2005-Kaash Mishod From Album 'Be man Che'
  • 2005-Maa hamoonim From Album 'Be man Che'
  • 2010-Ax e toa From Album 'Music and I'
  • 2010-Man o Toee From Album 'Music and I'
  • 2010-Noor o Booseh From Album 'Music and I'
  • 2010-Da'vat From Album 'Music and I'
  • 2011-Animation video of Moosighi o Man From Album 'Music and I'

References

  1. ↑ Persian pronunciation: [biːˈʒæne moɾtæzæˈvi]
  2. ↑ "Bijan Mortazavi `s biography". 
  3. ↑ "Bijan Mortazavi `s biography". 
  4. ↑ "ترانه های ایرج با صدای بیزن". 

External links

See also

Authority control
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.