Reza Ghassemi
Reza Ghassemi (Persian: رضا قاسمی; born 1949) is an Iranian novelist and musician.
Life
He was born in Esfahan. He also is talented in classical Iranian music. He is a master of the Persian Lute the Setar. He has composed some songs for the Iranian maestro Shahram Nazeri. He has also been on stage with some other leading Iranian vocalists such as master Mohammad Reza Shajarian and Sepideh Raissadat.
His best-known composition is the last track on the best-selling classical Iranian album, Gol-e Sadbarg released in 1984. This album, which includes compositions from Jalal Zolfonoun, Shahram Nazeri as well as Reza Ghassemi, is believed to have the most influential effect on Iranian young artists who were reluctant to learn the Setar.
Since the release of the album Gol-e Sadbarg, Setar found unbelievably great popularity among Iranians. In truth, Ghassemi and his two famous colleagues, mentioned above, began a new era in Iranian classical music. Though he lives in France, Ghassemi has not given up teaching Iranian music. Farrokhzad Layegh has studied Setar with Mr. Ghassemi, among some other masters.
Reza Ghassemi's latest album "14 Cheerful Pieces" with the voice of Iranian vocalist Sepideh Raissadat was released on October 25, 2010, in France (by Buda Musique Records).
He has published three novels so far: Nocturnal Orchestra of Woods(1996),The Well of Babel (1999)and The Spell Chanted by Lambs (2002). Some of his works have been translated into French. The Spell Chanted by Lambs is his fist work in English.
Awards
- Golshiri award, 2002.
- the writers and critical award, 2002.
- PEKA award, 2002.
- the writers and critical award, 2010.
Albums
- 14 Cheerful Pieces (rel. Oct. 2010)
- Dashti-Mahour (rel. 1992)
- Improvisation in Esfahan – Rast Panjgah
- Siavash Khani (Chahargah)
- Gol-e Sadbarg (rel. 1984)
References
- A critic (in farsi) of his latest album (14 Cheerful Pieces) with Sepideh Raissadat
- A critic on his book
- An interview with Ghassemi in Radio Zamaneh