Dariush Safvat
Encyclopedia
Dariush Safvat (داريوش صفوت) (born 1928) is an internationally renowned and well-respected Persian music master and ethnomusicologist. Along with Nur-Ali Borumand, Dr. Safvat was the co-founder and a former director of the Center for Preservation and Propagation of Iranian Music. Some credit Dr. Safvat with saving traditional music from obliteration in the 1970s. The Center counts among its graduates some of the most prolific and admired masters of classical Persian music, including Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Hossein Alizadeh
, Hossein Omoumi
, Parisa
, the late Nasser Farhangfar, Dariush Talai
, Majid Kiani and Mahmoud Farahmand.
). He received a B.A. in Law from the University of Tehran in 1953 and a Ph.D. in International Law from the Paris School of Law (France) in 1965. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has held many key posts in academia and the dance music scene. He is currently a Fellow at The Academy of Sciences of IR Iran.
and Santour. He began learning to play the Setar at an early age from his father, Ali Asghar Safvat, who also played the ancient instrument. Among others, Dr. Safvat studied with two other Masters of Persian classical music, Abolhasan Saba
and Haj Agha Mohammad Irani. He is credited with having taught some of the most talented Iranian musicians of the 20th century in Iran.
However, Dr. safvat himself claims the person who had the most influence on his life and music was Ostad Elahi, a Persian
judge, philosopher, theologian and master musician.
Dr. Safvat has published a number of books and articles in Persian, French and English, and has produced a large number of recordings. But what is most remarkable is the degree to which his humanity, piety and integrity have made him popular among both the music elite and the masses alike.
In March 2005, he received "Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
" granted by the French government.
Hossein Alizadeh
Hossein Alizadeh , is an Iranian composer, radif-preserver, researcher, teacher, and tar and setar instrumentalist and improviser, described by Allmusic as a leading Iranian classical composer and musician....
, Hossein Omoumi
Hossein Omoumi
Hossein Omoumi is a scholar and teacher of Persian music, who is Maseeh Professor in Persian Performing Arts of music at the University of California, Irvine. He has performed at many concerts and music festivals as a player of the ney, the traditional reed flute of Iran.-External links:*...
, Parisa
Parisa
Fātemeh Vā'ezi , commonly known by her stage name Parīsā , is a Persian Classical vocalist and musician.----...
, the late Nasser Farhangfar, Dariush Talai
Dariush Talai
Dariush Talai plays both the Tar and Setar.Born in 1953 in Iran, he studied Persian music with masters of the Radif. His teachers include Tar player Ali Akbar Shahnazi, Nur Ali Borumand with whom he studied Musical radif and old compositions, as well as youssef Forutan and Abdollah Davami, with...
, Majid Kiani and Mahmoud Farahmand.
Biography
Dr. Safvat was born on November 28, 1928 in Tehran, Persia (present-day IranIran
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 received a B.A. in Law from the University of Tehran in 1953 and a Ph.D. in International Law from the Paris School of Law (France) in 1965. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has held many key posts in academia and the dance music scene. He is currently a Fellow at The Academy of Sciences of IR Iran.
Music
Dr. Safvat is best known for his mastery of SetarSetar (lute)
Setar is a Persian musical instrument. It is a member of the lute family. Two and a half centuries ago, a fourth string was added to the setar, which has 25 - 27 moveable frets...
and Santour. He began learning to play the Setar at an early age from his father, Ali Asghar Safvat, who also played the ancient instrument. Among others, Dr. Safvat studied with two other Masters of Persian classical music, Abolhasan Saba
Abolhasan Saba
Abol Hasan Sabā , was a renowned Iranian musician, composer, violinist, and setar player.-Biography:He was born in Tehran to Abul Qasim Khan Kamal ol-Saltaneh, son of Mohammad Jafar Khan Sadr ol-Hekma, son of Mahmud Khan Kashi Malak ol-Shoara Sadr ol-Shoara Saba ol-Shoara, son of Mohammad Hossain...
and Haj Agha Mohammad Irani. He is credited with having taught some of the most talented Iranian musicians of the 20th century in Iran.
However, Dr. safvat himself claims the person who had the most influence on his life and music was Ostad Elahi, a Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
judge, philosopher, theologian and master musician.
Dr. Safvat has published a number of books and articles in Persian, French and English, and has produced a large number of recordings. But what is most remarkable is the degree to which his humanity, piety and integrity have made him popular among both the music elite and the masses alike.
In March 2005, he received "Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
" granted by the French government.