Shamss Ensemble

The Shamss Ensemble is a musical group that performs traditional Sufi and classical Iranian music with the tanboor, Daf (frame drum), Ney and various other percussion instruments.[1] The group was founded by composer Kaykhosro Pournazeri.[2] His sons Tahmoures and Sohrab are also members of the group.

History

Pournazeri formed the Shamss Ensemble with a vision of bringing back the lost art of tanboor through compositions that fused the tanboor with other traditional classical mode instruments.

He invited fellow musicians who were familiar playing such classical pieces, they eventually became a popular musical ensemble in Iran.[3] Initially, the group performed under the name of Tanboor-e-Shams, but adding traditional and Kurdish music to their performances, they took the name of the Shamss Ensemble.

The Shamss Ensemble has performed at over 300 international venues and was on tour in the United States in 2008 during the month of October.[4][5]

Performers

Over the years, there have been more than fifty players and singers, the majority of whom were Pournazeri's students. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, women were banned from performing solo in front of men—that includes singing or playing any instruments. Only recently, women have been included as vocalists and players of the tanbour. Currently, the Shamss Ensemble has 15 players.

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/teresa-rodriguez-williamson/amnesty-international-con_b_293918.html
  2. ↑ Iran's Shams ensemble to perform in Turkey. The Kuwait Observer. Accessed 19 August 2010
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ http://www.payvand.com/news/08/oct/1037.html%7CShams Ensemble Touring U.S. This Month
  5. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/story/2008/10/081014_ag-shams-usa-tour-pics.shtml (Persian)

See also

Music of Iran

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