Iranian women and Persian music
Encyclopedia
Persian music owes partly its maturity to the significant efforts made by accomplished female musicians, instrumentalists and vocalists throughout the history.
, Iranian female solo vocalists are only permitted to perform for all-female audiences. Some women have also been allowed to conduct classes for female students in private homes. Female vocalists may perform for male audiences only as a part of a chorus, never individually. The prominent classical singer Fatemeh Vaezi, has given concerts accompanied by a female orchestra. She has also performed widely in Europe and the United States. Parisa (Ms. Vaezi's stage name
) has also assembled a five-piece female orchestra.
After 1986 Maryam Akhondy
, the classical trained singer from Teheran, started working with other Iranian musicians in exile. With Nawa and Tschakawak she performed in Germany and Scandinavia. At the same time she founded Ensemble Barbad, another group of traditional Iranian art music, which has been touring all over Europe for the past years. In 2000 Maryam Akhondy
created the all-female acapella group named Banu as a kind of musical expedition to the different regions and cultures of Iran. For this project Maryam Akhondy over years collected old folk songs, which were sung only in private sphere, where women are alone or among themselves: at the cradle, doing housework, working in the fields, and women's celebrations. Maryam Akhondy made it her business to bring traditional women’s songs back to life again.
The well-known classical and folk singer. Sima Bina
, who is also a visual artist, has taught many female students to sing. She has also been permitted to give concerts for women in Iran, and has performed widely abroad.
Ghashang Kamkar
teaches both male and female students. Both Ghashang and Parisa have criticized the patriarchal power structure for its primitive treatment of female artists.
A choir for Iranian women with fifty-eight members was established under the Armenian male conductor Gorgin Mousissian. Mousissian's choir, with its repertoire of National songs and folk melodies, performed recently for a mixed male and female audience at Vahdat Hall in Tehran.
is believed to have been the first female master of Persian music to introduce a new style of music and receive a positive reputation among masters of Persian music during her own lifetime.
Several years later, Mahmoud Karimi trained several female students who later became masters of Persian traditional music.
Many female pioneers in Iranian pop music were initially trained in classical Persian music. Maestro Ali Tajvidi
in particular trained many female students (e.g.Hayedeh) that later on shifted to popular music. Some pioneers are:
Persian women musicians in Ancient Iran
Pictures of women playing musical instruments can be seen in many Persian paintings, miniatures, and sculptures that remain from ancient times, showing the long history of women in traditional instrumental Persian music.Iranian women musician in modern time
Since the Iranian revolutionIranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, Iranian female solo vocalists are only permitted to perform for all-female audiences. Some women have also been allowed to conduct classes for female students in private homes. Female vocalists may perform for male audiences only as a part of a chorus, never individually. The prominent classical singer Fatemeh Vaezi, has given concerts accompanied by a female orchestra. She has also performed widely in Europe and the United States. Parisa (Ms. Vaezi's stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
) has also assembled a five-piece female orchestra.
After 1986 Maryam Akhondy
Maryam Akhondy
Maryam Akhondy is a classical trained singer from Tehran, Iran. She was student of Ostad Esmail Mehrtasch and Ostad Nassrollah Nassehpour, two masters of classical Iranian music...
, the classical trained singer from Teheran, started working with other Iranian musicians in exile. With Nawa and Tschakawak she performed in Germany and Scandinavia. At the same time she founded Ensemble Barbad, another group of traditional Iranian art music, which has been touring all over Europe for the past years. In 2000 Maryam Akhondy
created the all-female acapella group named Banu as a kind of musical expedition to the different regions and cultures of Iran. For this project Maryam Akhondy over years collected old folk songs, which were sung only in private sphere, where women are alone or among themselves: at the cradle, doing housework, working in the fields, and women's celebrations. Maryam Akhondy made it her business to bring traditional women’s songs back to life again.
The well-known classical and folk singer. Sima Bina
Sima Bina
Simā Binā is notable Persian classical musician and Iran's researcher, composer, singer and song-writer of Iranian folk music...
, who is also a visual artist, has taught many female students to sing. She has also been permitted to give concerts for women in Iran, and has performed widely abroad.
Ghashang Kamkar
Ghashang Kamkar
Ghashang Kamkar is an Iranian Kurdish musician.She is the only female member of the musical group Kamkarha, composed of her seven brothers and her, all of whom are exceptional musicians...
teaches both male and female students. Both Ghashang and Parisa have criticized the patriarchal power structure for its primitive treatment of female artists.
A choir for Iranian women with fifty-eight members was established under the Armenian male conductor Gorgin Mousissian. Mousissian's choir, with its repertoire of National songs and folk melodies, performed recently for a mixed male and female audience at Vahdat Hall in Tehran.
Persian classical music
Qamar ol-Molouk VaziriQamar ol-Molouk Vaziri
Qamar ol-Molouk Vaziri is Iran's "Queen of Persian Music" and a prominent vocalist and intellectual....
is believed to have been the first female master of Persian music to introduce a new style of music and receive a positive reputation among masters of Persian music during her own lifetime.
Several years later, Mahmoud Karimi trained several female students who later became masters of Persian traditional music.
- Arfa Atrai, SanturSanturThe santur is a Persian hammered dulcimerIt is a trapezoid-shaped box often made of walnut or different exotic woods. The Persian classical santur has 72 strings. The name santur was first referenced in ancient Persian poetry...
musician and writer - Soosan Matloobi, Master of Persian classical music
- Fatemeh VaeziParisaFātemeh Vā'ezi , commonly known by her stage name Parīsā , is a Persian Classical vocalist and musician.----...
or better known as ParisaParisaFātemeh Vā'ezi , commonly known by her stage name Parīsā , is a Persian Classical vocalist and musician.----...
, Master of Persian classical music - Masoomeh Mehr-Ali, Master of Persian classical music
- Soosan Aslani, Master of Persian classical music
- ShakilaShakilaShakila is a Persian vocalist and master of classical Persian music.She studied both Persian classical music, and western classical music...
, singer, winner of Persian academy award. - DelkashDelkashDelkash born, Esmat Bagherpour Baboli , was an Iranian diva and actress with a rare and unique voice and vocal range.-Biography:...
- Simin Ghanem
- Soodabeh SalemSoodabeh SalemSoodabeh Salem is a renowned Iranian musician, piano player and the conductor of Iran's Children Orchestra....
, musician and conductor - Afsaneh RasaeiAfsaneh RasaeiAfsaneh Rasaei is a Persian vocalist who began training with Mahmoud Karimi in 1974. After Islamic Revolution it was forbidden for women to perform in public, so all the activities of women vocalists was limited to teaching. Now Iranian women are permitted to perform in concert with men, not solo...
, member of Hamavayan ensembleHamavayan ensembleHamāvāyān Ensemble is a renowned Persian music group.- History :Led by Iranian master instrumentalist and composer Hossein Alizadeh, the Hamavayan Ensemble performs new interpretations of classical Persian music.... - Pirayeh PourafarPirayeh PourafarPirayeh Pourafar is an Iranian musician, Tar player, and expert on Persian music.Pourafar learned the Radif as a student of Grand Master Ali Akbar Shahnazi at the Royal National Music Conservatory of Tehran. She has directed two successful Persian music ensembles, Nava Ensemble and Lian...
, founder of Nava Ensemble and Lian Ensemble - Mehrbanou Goudarzi
- Mahsa Vahdat
Iranian folk-music
- Pari Zangeneh
- Sima BinaSima BinaSimā Binā is notable Persian classical musician and Iran's researcher, composer, singer and song-writer of Iranian folk music...
- Darya DadvarDarya DadvarDaryā Dādvar, is an accomplished Iranian soprano soloist and composer living in Paris, France.-Education:Darya is a native of Rasht but grew up in Tehran. In 1991 she left Iran for France where she studied music. She is a graduate of The National Conservatory in Toulouse, France...
- Mitra Rahbar
- Monika JaliliMonika JaliliMonika Jalili is a vocalist singing songs of Iran, mostly in Persian.Born in the United States, Monika is of Dutch, German and Iranian descent. She studied music at The Manhattan School of Music. She was a student of Beverley Peck Johnson...
- Ziba ShiraziZiba ShiraziZiba Shirazi is an Iranian Jazz/ Pop musician , her songs mostly focused on women’s emotion, bold expressions of Love and Feminism.-Biography:...
- Zohreh JooyaZohreh Jooya- Music career :Jooya's father was an Afghan and her mother an Iranian. Zohreh Jooya has been said to have moved to Europe for further advancement into music studies. After earning her classical music education from Amsterdam she then moved to Vienna in 1980, where she later earned a masters degree...
- Shushā Guppy
Iranian popular music
Ali Tajvidi
Ali Tajvidi , was a Persian musician, composer, violinist, songwriter, and music professor at the School of National Music and Tehran University...
in particular trained many female students (e.g.Hayedeh) that later on shifted to popular music. Some pioneers are:
- GoogooshGoogooshFaegheh Atashin also known by her stage name Googoosh is an Iranian singer and actress. She is known for her contributions to Iranian pop music, but also starred in a variety of movies from the 1950s to the 1970s. She achieved the pinnacle of her fame and success towards the end of the 1970s...
- HayedehHayedehHayedeh born Ma'soumeh Dadehbala , was a Persian classical and Pop singer with a contralto vocal range. In a career spanning more than 20 years, she had many hits...
- MahastiMahastiMahasti bornEftekhar Dadehbala was a legendary Persian Pop and classical singer and diva and the younger sister of singer Hayedeh.- Background :...
- Leila ForouharLeila ForouharLeila Forouhar is a singer and actress from Iran. She relocated to Los Angeles after the Iranian Revolution.-Career:Leila is the daughter of the late Iranian actor Jahangir Forouhar, who had already established a solid background in the Iranian entertainment industry by the early 1970s. She speaks...
- PooranPooranPooran is a village in Jalore district of Rajasthan state. It is a major village of Raniwara tehsil....
- Sima Mafiha