Manoochehr Sadeghi
Encyclopedia
Manoochehr Sadeghi (Born April 13, 1938) is Persian American
naturalized citizen, born in Tehran
, Iran
. He is considered a Grandmaster
or Ostad of the santur
a Persian hammered dulcimer
. Recipient of the 2003 National Heritage Fellowship Award by the Library of Congress and in 2002 Durfee Foundation: Recipient of the Master Musician Award. He has been lecturing, teaching, recording and performing Persian classical music on the santur professionally for over 50 years.
, and then at UCLA, where he began teaching and performing while earning his degrees. In 1973 he was awarded the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program.
; Barnes co-produced Michael Jackson
's 1987 Bad
album. Sadeghi has a variety of students whom he teaches at home and on the internet. Sadeghi is compiling his lessons into an online music school to preserve his knowledge, technique and personal style through contemporary Persian classical improvisation. He is preparing for a series of concerts after the release of his next album. He taught private lessons in Iran
from 1953 to 1964 and then in the United States
from 1966 to the present. Sadeghi was a teacher at the Conservatory of Persian National Music in Iran from 1958–1964 on the faculty at UCLA’s Department of Ethnomusicology
from 1967 to 1997. He also taught Persian classical music theory, history and performance, and gave annual concerts on campus and abroad.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
naturalized citizen, born in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. He is considered a Grandmaster
Grandmaster
Grandmaster or Grand Master may refer to:In positions:*Grand Master , the head of various orders**Grand Masters of the Knights Templar**List of Grand Masters of the Knights Hospitaller**Grand Masters of the Teutonic Knights...
or Ostad of the santur
Santur
The 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...
a Persian hammered dulcimer
Hammered dulcimer
The hammered dulcimer is a stringed musical instrument with the strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. Typically, the hammered dulcimer is set on a stand, at an angle, before the musician, who holds small mallet hammers in each hand to strike the strings...
. Recipient of the 2003 National Heritage Fellowship Award by the Library of Congress and in 2002 Durfee Foundation: Recipient of the Master Musician Award. He has been lecturing, teaching, recording and performing Persian classical music on the santur professionally for over 50 years.
Early life
Sadeghi began studying the santur at the age of 7 with a music teacher coincidentally named Manoochehr Sadeghian. By the age of 14 he became the prized pupil of a legendary figure in Persian classical music, the late Ostad Abol Hassan Saba; who was a master and creator of the Radif of Saba, considered today's manual to mastering Persian classical music. At the age of 19 he performed in Saba's first orchestra of the State Fine Arts Department of Iran. After performing on Iran's television and radio, he went on to stage live concerts around the world for various head's of state. In 1964, Sadeghi emigrated to the United States to pursue his education and career. First at the California State University, FullertonCalifornia State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
, and then at UCLA, where he began teaching and performing while earning his degrees. In 1973 he was awarded the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program.
Career
Sadeghi is recording his latest album, "Solh Ensemble", with world renowned musician and composer John BarnesJohn Barnes (musician)
John Barnes is an English-born jazz saxophonist and clarinetist who played New Orleans-styled jazz in his early career. Barnes has worked with many notable artists such as Alex Welsh, Gerry Mulligan, Alan Elsdon, Spike Robinson, Bobby Wellins and Keith Nichols.- References :...
; Barnes co-produced Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's 1987 Bad
Bad (album)
Bad is the seventh studio album by American songwriter and recording artist Michael Jackson. The album was released on August 31, 1987 by Epic/CBS Records, nearly five years after Jackson's previous studio album, Thriller, which went on to become the world's best-selling album...
album. Sadeghi has a variety of students whom he teaches at home and on the internet. Sadeghi is compiling his lessons into an online music school to preserve his knowledge, technique and personal style through contemporary Persian classical improvisation. He is preparing for a series of concerts after the release of his next album. He taught private lessons in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
from 1953 to 1964 and then in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1966 to the present. Sadeghi was a teacher at the Conservatory of Persian National Music in Iran from 1958–1964 on the faculty at UCLA’s Department of Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...
from 1967 to 1997. He also taught Persian classical music theory, history and performance, and gave annual concerts on campus and abroad.
Notable live performances
- Command performances for Queen Elizabeth II - Vice President Nixon, King Hussain of Jordan, King Fasil of Iraq, Ronald Reagan, 1953-1964.
- India-Persia - Manoochehr Sadeghi (santur), Ali Akbar Khan (sarod), Labera Theatre, Santa Barbara, 1983.
- Classical Music of the East – India, Persia, Arabia - M. Sadeghi (santur) & The Jazz and World Music Society, Santa Barbara, 1983.
- Music of Iran - Manoochehr Sadeghi, Music Director, Hayedeh, vocalist, UCLA, Society for Ethnomusicology, 1984.
- East West Fusion - Manoochehr Sadeghi (santur), L. Subramaniam (violin) and ensemble, UCLA Royce Hall, 1986.
- Music and Dance on the Grass - annual international folk festival, UCLA, 1967-1997 - Honoring the 600th anniversary of the birth of Hafez
- An Evening of Persian Music - special guest santur virtuoso Manoochehr Sadeghi, Lotte
- Sacred Landmarks - Lehmann Hall, UC Santa Barbara, 1993 - concert for the L. A. Festival, All Saints Church, Pasadena, CA, 1993.
- Persian Festival - Persian music ensemble directed by Manoochehr Sadeghi, UCLA Fowler Museum, 1995.
- Traditional Persian Music - Earth Music Center of Indiana, IUPUI Lecture Hall Auditorium, Indianapolis, IN, 1998.
- World Festival of Sacred Music - Mystic Voices - Music of Devotion in Islam and Hinduism,” concert Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, 1999.
- Smithsonian Institute - Sakler & Freer Gallery 2003 Vision Concert Series
- The Kennedy Center - 2003 Vision Concert Series
- Japan American Theatre - 2003 Vision Concert Series
- J. Paul Getty - 2004 Fusion concert with Pejman Hadadi and Adam del Monte
- Grand Performances - 2004 Fusion concert with John Belizikjian and Adam del Monte
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - 2004 Improvisation Conference - Professor Bruno Nettl
- The Virginia National Folk Festival - 2007 concert for the National Folk Festival in Richmond Virginia
- Disney Hall - 2007 Concert with the Los Angeles Master Chorale