Amir Koushkani's Books

The Art of Avaz and Mohammad Reza Shajarian

Foundations and Contexts

By: Rob Simms,Amir Koushkani

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The Art of Avaz and Mohammad Reza Shajarian

Foundations and Contexts

By: Rob Simms,Amir Koushkani

The Art of Avaz and Mohammad Reza Shajarian: Foundations and Contexts, by Rob Simms and Amir Koushkani, examines the traditional art of singing classical Persian poetry, as represented by its greatest living exponent. This in-depth study surveys the social and historical context of the twentieth-century tradition of avaz while placing Shajarian’s early career within this complex culture, from being a child prodigy of Qur’an recitation in Mashhad to his rise to national prominence in the 1970s. As a globetrotting celebrity who is renowned for singing medieval poetry with impeccable technique and radiant inspiration, Shajarian’s life and work provide a compelling case study for larger issues of reconciling tradition and modernity, and the crucial role of the individual in maintaining and renovating traditional art forms. Avaz is discussed in the broader context of Iranian narrative performance traditions, where the performer retells well-known scripts in a way that is appropriate to the audience and the present occasion, spinning the tale to convey a personal message. Shajarian’s career also exemplifies the huge changes that Iranian musical culture underwent in the 1960s and 70s. Finally, the study includes a detailed examination of the materials and creative processes of Shajarian’s artistic craft, including his acquisition process and training, vocal technique, selection and treatment of poetry, use of traditional musical materials, and his balance of engaging preset materials with improvisation. The Art of Avaz and Mohammad Reza Shajarian is an impressively detailed study of the music, life, and environment of the most influential musician in Iranian classical music of the past three decades.

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Page Count

329

Publisher

Lexington Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

0739172123

ISBN 13

9780739172124

Mohammad Reza Shajarian's Avaz in Iran and Beyond, 1979-2010

By: Rob Simms,Amir Koushkani

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Mohammad Reza Shajarian's Avaz in Iran and Beyond, 1979-2010

By: Rob Simms,Amir Koushkani

Mohammad Reza Shajarian's Avaz in Iran and Beyond, 1979-2010 is a comprehensive study of the legacy of Mohammad Reza Shajarian, the greatest living exponent of avaz, the traditional art of singing classical Persian poetry. Focusing on Shajarian's career after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the study includes a detailed examination of the landmark recordings that established him as a national and then global icon of refined Persian culture, artistic excellence, and courageous political resistance.

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Page Count

252

Publisher

Lexington Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

0739172093

ISBN 13

9780739172094

Mohammad Reza Shajarian's Avaz in Iran and Beyond, 1979–2010

By: Rob Simms,Amir Koushkani

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Mohammad Reza Shajarian's Avaz in Iran and Beyond, 1979–2010

By: Rob Simms,Amir Koushkani

Mohammad Reza Shajarian’s Avaz in Iran and Beyond, 1979–2010 is a comprehensive study of the legacy of Mohammad Reza Shajarian, the greatest living exponent of avaz, the traditional art of singing classical Persian poetry. Picking up where the authors’ previous volume (The Art of Avaz and Mohammad Reza Shajarian: Foundations and Contexts) left off, this study examines the landmark recordings Shajarian made following the Islamic Revolution of 1979 as artistic masterpieces of avaz and as shrewd, mass-mediated expressions of frustration and dissent that boldly crystallized public sentiments under highly repressive conditions. These recordings transformed Shajarian into a national icon in Iran and through the diaspora. The book traces the subsequent expansion of Shajarian’s music and presence in ever-widening circles to his current global profile, powerfully underlined by his receipt of prestigious awards from UNESCO and other global institutions. Shajarian’s artistic accomplishments, including his recent activity in designing and crafting a range of new stringed instruments, and socio-political significance are placed in the broader context of Iranian musical culture in the decades following the Revolution. In surveying Shajarian’s legacy, this study concludes with questions arising from the Election Crisis of 2009—where he was popularly proclaimed as “Master of the Green Movement” (Ostad-e Sabz) for his outspoken opposition to the violent crackdown—the subsequent political stalemate, and how these dynamics resonate with issues of the present state and relevance of Persian classical music in the twenty-first century. This book forms the conclusion of the most detailed study to date of the music, life, and environment of the most influential musician in Iranian classical music of the past three decades.

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Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

253

Publisher

Lexington Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

0739172107

ISBN 13

9780739172100

Book's by Amir Koushkani

The Art of Avaz and Mohammad Reza Shajarian

The Art of Avaz and Mohammad Reza Shajarian

Mohammad Reza Shajarian's Avaz in Iran and Beyond, 1979-2010

Mohammad Reza Shajarian's Avaz in Iran and Beyond, 1979-2010

Mohammad Reza Shajarian's Avaz in Iran and Beyond, 1979–2010

Mohammad Reza Shajarian's Avaz in Iran and Beyond, 1979–2010

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