The Persian Dutch Network has made available a previously unpublished piano work by Prof. Massoudieh, one of the iconic composers and ethnomusicologists of 20th-century Persia/Iran.
Massoudieh wrote “Persian Folk Song” for solo piano in 1996. This piece initially comes across as an early post-romantic composition, however, the use of dissonant chords and large leaps on the instrument, coupled with rhythmic and textural changes, emphasizes its modernist character.
The opening theme of this piece vaguely resembles a Persian folk song; nevertheless, its initial harmonisation blurs this connection. The appearance of this folk tune is much more explicit by the end of the piece. Persian (Iranian) melodic motifs are inserted into the composition and are juxtaposed with exaggerated occidental harmonic passages, almost as if the composer is intending to portray a clash between the Persian and Western modes of musical expression.
“Persian Folk Song” was premiered by Elisabeth Klein in March 1997 during the festival “Journée de la Musique Persane”, organised by Iradj Sahbai, in Strasbourg, France.
In the present volume, an engraved version of the score is followed by the composer’s original manuscript. The publication is funded by the Kooch Foundation in London.
Mohammad-Taghi Massoudieh (1927-1999) studied violin at the Tehran Conservatory, composition at École Normale de Musique de Paris as well as Musikhochschule Leipzig, and musicology at the University of Cologne. His PhD dissertation, “Awaz- e-Šure” (1968), is one of the primary German sources for Persian music studies.
In 1969, Massoudieh joined the University of Tehran's Music Department where he remained until the end of his life. In addition to teaching and ethnomusicological research, he also composed a number of pieces, performed by various ensembles, including the Nürnberger Symphoniker, the NIRT Chamber Orchestra, the Tehran Symphony, and the Plovdiv Philharmonic.
The libraries and academic institutions are welcome to add “Persian Folk Song” to their collection. For more information please contact: info [at] persiandutch.com. The book is also available on AMAZON.
ALSO SEE :
– Persian Compositions for Voice & Piano (by Samin Baghcheban)
– Choral Music from Persia (Farah Choir, 1978)