Author Description

The Art of Persian Music offers a richly layered introduction to the music and culture of Iran through a compelling multimedia approach. Like the Persian carpet-fine, intricate, and evocative-Persian music is one of Iran's most exquisite art forms. Yet it remains little known in the West. Intimate and spiritual, it is a solo, monophonic tradition marked by subtle melodies, rich modal variation, and a contemplative aesthetic distinct from the drama and harmonic complexity of Western music. This book provides the essential tools for understanding Persian music-its history, instruments, repertory, structure, rhythms, and modal system (known as dastgāh). Drawing on quotes and anecdotes from master musicians past and present, it reveals the ethos and inner philosophy that animate this profound musical tradition. Lavishly illustrated with images of instruments and musicians from museum collections around the world, as well as Persian poetry and calligraphy, the book introduces readers not only to the art of Persian music but to the broader aesthetic of Persian artistic expression. Although grounded in the latest scholarship, The Art of Persian Music is written for the general reader. It omits technical excess in favor of clarity, insight, and accessibility. Far from a mere compilation of past sources, it presents fresh perspectives and original ideas that illuminate both the historical depth and contemporary vitality of Persian music.