Hossein Alizâdeh

Hossein Alizâdeh
Background information
Born	1951 (age 64–65)
Origin	Tehran, Iran
Genres	Persian traditional music, Sound track
Occupation(s)	Composer, lute player
Instruments	Tar, setar (also sallaneh, shurangiz)
Years active	1973–present

Hossein Alizâdeh (Persian: حسین علیزاده‎‎), is an Iranian composer,^[1] radif-preserver, researcher, teacher, and tar and setar instrumentalist and improviser, described by Allmusic as a leading Iranian classical composer and musician.^[2]

He has made numerous recording with prominent musicians including Shajarian, Nazeri, Madjid Khaladj, and Gasparyan, and is a member of the Musical group, Masters of Persian Music.

Biography

Alizadeh was born in 1951 in Tehran to Azeri and Persian parents.^[3] He graduated from the music conservatory in 1975 and entered the school of fine arts in the University of Tehran where he studied composition and Persian music. He continued his education at the Berlin University of the Arts in composition and musicology. He studied with various masters of Traditional Persian Music such as Houshang Zarif, Ali Akbar Shahnazi, Nur-Ali Borumand, Mahmoud Karimi, Abdollah Davami, Yusef Forutan, and Sa'id Hormozi. From these masters he learned the radif of Persian classical music.

Hossein Alizadeh is considered as one of the most important figures in contemporary Persian music, exemplifying excellence in traditional Persian music today. Alizadeh received a BA in Music Composition and Performance from the University of Tehran, and then studied Composition and Musicology at Berlin University. He has taught at University of Tehran and Tehran Music Conservatory. He has performed, as a solo artist, in Iran, North America, Europe and Asia. He was the conductor and soloist in The Iranian National Orchestra of Radio and Television. He established the acclaimed Aref Ensemble and has often worked with the Shayda Ensemble. His first professional experience in Europe was performing with the famous Bejart Ballet Company’s orchestra for Maurice Bejart's ballet, Gulistan.

He plays the tar and setar, and has recently derived the sallaneh and shurangiz from the ancient Persian lute barbat.

Awards

He has been nominated for the 2007 Grammy Award along with Armenian musician, Djivan Gasparyan, for their collaboration album, The Endless Vision. In 2008, he was voted as "Iran's most distinguished musician of the year".

In November 28th, 2014 he refused to accept France’s high distinction in art, Legion of Honour.^[4]

Inventions

• Dâd o Bidâd: A new maqâm in Persian music, through combining the gusheh of dâd in dastgah of Mahour and the gusheh of bidâd in dastgah of Homayoun.
• Sallaneh and Shoor-Angiz: Two new musical instruments derived from the ancient Persian lute barbat.

Works

Alizadeh at a concert in London. From right to left: Alizadeh, Homayoun Shajarian, Mohammad-Reza Shajarian and Kayhan Kalhor

• 2010 – Birthplace of Earth, with Hamavayan Ensemble, Ba Music Records.
• 2009 – Half Moon, Ba Music Records.

• 2009 – Echoes of Light with Madjid Khaladj, Ba Music Records.
• 2007 – Ode To Flowers, with Hamavayan Ensemble, Ba Music Records.
• 2006 – Endless Vision, with Djivan Gasparyan
• 2005 – Birds, with Madjid Khaladj and Homa Nikham, Ba Music Records.
• 2005 – Faryad (The Cry),with MR Shajaian, Keyhan Kalhor and H Shajarian, World Village Music
• 2003 – Sallaneh, Mahoor Institute
• 2002 – Bi To Be Sar Nemishavad (Without You), MR Shajarian,Keyhan Kalhor and Homayoun Shajarian, World Village Music
• 2001 – Chahargah & Bayat-e Tork with Hossein Omumi, M Ghavihelm, Mahoor Institute
• 2000 – Zemestan ast (It's Winter), Mehdi Akhavan Sales: Poems MR Shajaian: Vocals Hossein Alizadeh: Tar Keyhan Kalhor: Kamancheh H Shajarian: Vocals & tombak Soroush Co.
• 1999 – Raz-e No (Novel Mystery), Hossein Alizadeh: Composer, Tar, Tanbur Mohsen Keramati, Afsaneh Rasayi, Homa Niknam, Ali Samadpour: Vocals Daryush Zargari: Tombak Mahoor Institute
• Paria, Qesseh-ye Dokhtara-ye Nane Darya (Paria, Tale of Daughters of the Mother Sea)
• 1996 – Sobhgahi Hossein Alizadeh: Composer Mohsen Karamati: Vocals Mahoor Institute
• 1995 – Musique iranienne : improvisations (کنسرت بداهه نوازی : نوا و همایون ) : H. Alizadeh : tar & setar ; Madjid Khaladj : tombak, Buda Records
• 1994 Paykubi Hossein Alizadeh: Setar Daryush Zargari: Tombak Mahoor Institute
• 1993 – Hamnavaei Hossein Alizadeh: Tar Arshad Tahmasbi: Tar Dariush Zargari: Tombak Mahoor Institute
• 1991 – Ava-ye Mehr (Song of Campassion), Hossein Alizadeh: Composer Orchestra of Indigenous Instruments of Iran
• 1990 – No Bang-e Kohan (Ancient Call-Anew) Mahoor Institute
• 1988 – Shourangiz (Song of Campassion), Hossein Alizadeh: Composer Sheyda and Aref Groups Shahram Nazeri: Vocals Mahoor Institute
• 1989 – Torkaman, Hossein Alizadeh: Setar Mahoor Institute
• 1988 – Raz-o-Niaz, Hossein Alizadeh: Composer Sheyda and Aref Groups Alireza Eftekhari: Vocals Mahoor Institute
• 1986 –Dream
• 1983 – NeyNava, Hossein Alizadeh: Composer String Orchestra of the National Radio and Television of Iran Djamshid Andalibi: Ney Soloist
• 1983 – Osyan (Revolt)
• 1977 – Hesar
• 1977 – Savaran-e Dasht-e Omid (Riders of the Plain of Hope)

Film scores

• The Song of Sparrows, 2008.^[5]
• Half Moon, 2006.
• Turtles can fly, 2004.
• Abjad ("First Letter"), 2003, composed by Abolfazl Jalili.
• Zamani baraye masti asbha ("A Time for Drunken Horses"), 2000.
• Doxtarân e xorshid ('Daughters of the Sun") directed by Maryam Shahriyâ, 2000.
• Gabbeh, 1995.
• Del Shodegân directed by Ali Hatami, 1992.
• Az A'sar, ("From Eons Ago")

References

• Laudan Nooshin, in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, edited by Stanley Sadie, second edition (Macmillan, London, 2001). ISBN 1-56159-239-0. (Oxford University Press, 2001). ISBN 0-19-517067-9.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hossein Alizadeh.

• Official Website
• A BBC Persian interview with Hossein Alizadeh (in Farsi)
• Hossein Alizadeh at Iran Chamber Society
• Hossein Alizadeh at Iranian.com
• Hossein Alizadeh at Setar.info
• Hossein Alizadeh: National Geographic World Music