Ardavan Kamkar
| Ardavan Kamkar | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1968 (age 46–47) Sanandaj, Kurdistan, Iran |
| Origin | Sanandaj, Kurdistan, Iran |
| Genres | Traditional Kurdish and Persian |
| Instruments | Santoor |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Labels | Various |
| Website | www.kamkars.net/Ardavan |
Ardavan Kamkar (Persian: اردوان کامکار; born 1968 in Sanandaj, Iran) is an Iranian-Kurdish musician from Iran. He is a part of the Kamkaran ensemble.
Biography
Ardavan Kamkar was born in 1968 in Sanandaj, Iran. He began learning to play the Santur (dulcimer) from his father, Master Hassan Kamkar at age 4. During his childhood years he worked with several Cultural & Art groups and the radio
Traditionally, the santur is tuned diatonically to the notes of two primary tonalities in a dastgah (Persian classical mode): the tonic is usually place in the middle row of strings on the second (F), third (G) or sixth (C) note (counting upward from the first bridge) in order to make the different positions accessible to the player, while the secondary tonality, in the same dastgah, is usually tuned on the lower notes played on the row of strings to the right. This method makes the santur playable in only one dastgah at a time and omits the possibility of modulation to other tonalities, limiting the musician to playing only one tonality in a given register, which sometimes eliminates the correct voice leading. Ardavan, however, has developed a tuning method by which he can take any note as a tonic and with some radical tuning sometimes have both chromatic and diatonic scales on the same santur in different registers. Therefore he has created the possibility of having up to four different tonalities at the same time to which he can modulate on one santur, allowing his melodies to be more colourful as well as having a correct voice leading. These technical innovations, driven by his singular musical sensibility and skill, make Ardavan Kamkar a distinguished voice among all santur players today.
In addition to playing the santur, Ardavan has taken music composition, harmony and counterpoint lessons with Houshang and Arsalan Kamkar.
Works
He released his first album named "Darya" (literally 'Sea') at age 16 which contains 6 pieces played by solo santur. His next works are
- "Sea" (solo santur in C minor and D major)
- "Bar Tarok-e Sepideh" (Concerto for santur & bowstring instruments orchestra in D major)
- "New Year Fish" (Concerto for santur and orchestra in A minor & solo santur in shur E)
- "Siachmaneh" (arrangement of Kurdish melodies for orchestra)
- "Over the Wind" (6 pieces for solo santur)
- "Grind Fine Diamonds" (4 pieces for solo santur)