Haj Ghorban Soleimani
Encyclopedia
Haj Ghorban Soleimani was a celebrated dotar player and vocalist from Iran. Dotar or Dutar is a form of Central Asian lute
. He was also the pioneer of a new model of the ancient stringed Azeri instrument the gopuz.
(علیآباد) village in the northern part of Qouchan in northeastern Iran. His father, Karbalaii Ramezan, an accomplished musician taught him the dotar from a young age. Following his father's death he continued learning the dotar and sought singing lessons from singers such as Avaz Bakhshi, Gholamhossein Bakhshi Jafarabadi and Mohammad Qeitaqi. By his early twenties he had mastered the traditional Iranian instrument, the dotar, and at the age of 21 he received the coveted 'Bakhshi' title, given to people of musical excellence in Khorasan province. Soleimani once spoke about the award; "In the Khorasan region 'Bakhshi' is the title given to a musician who is perfect. He must be able to compose, sing, play, make musical instruments and even know stories and narrate tales. One can hardly find any such artists these days." Soleimani sang in the three languages spoken in Khorasan province, namely Persian, Turkic and Kurdish.
Throughout his career he participated in many international concerts and venues, but was more popular in France
than anywhere else where he believed his music was more appreciated. Soleimani often spoke out about his perceived distinct lack of following in his native country which disappointed him, once saying "Non-Iranian nations especially the French know me better than my fellow countrymen since they have a passion for art and music." He also performed notably at the Festival of Iranian Arts in Düsseldorf
, Germany
.
In 1990, Ghorban Soleimani was accoladed 'Best and Most Authentic Musician Award by the Festival of Revolutionary Songs and Music. In 1991, he received the honorary title “Real National Treasure" at a music festival held in Avignon
, France
.
on Sunday January 20, 2008 aged 87 according to the Tehran Times
, although other sources have falsely reported that he was 85 at time of death.
His body was buried in the village the following day on January 21, and his funeral was attended by numerous famous artists and cultural officials in the region.
Ghorban is survived by 14 children, and his son, aged 50 (as of January 2008) Alireza had performed with his father on numerous occasions. Two of Soleimani's daughters have also become musicians.
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
. He was also the pioneer of a new model of the ancient stringed Azeri instrument the gopuz.
Biography
Soleimani was born in 1920 to kurdish parents in AliabadAliabad
Aliabad is one of the old suburbs in Hyderabad, India. It is part of the old city of Hyderabad. It is very close to the historic Charminar.Aliabad is situated about 2.5 km from Charminar towards Falaknuma palace. Aliabad Darwaza is one of the 8 entrances to the erstwhile Hyderabad...
(علیآباد) village in the northern part of Qouchan in northeastern Iran. His father, Karbalaii Ramezan, an accomplished musician taught him the dotar from a young age. Following his father's death he continued learning the dotar and sought singing lessons from singers such as Avaz Bakhshi, Gholamhossein Bakhshi Jafarabadi and Mohammad Qeitaqi. By his early twenties he had mastered the traditional Iranian instrument, the dotar, and at the age of 21 he received the coveted 'Bakhshi' title, given to people of musical excellence in Khorasan province. Soleimani once spoke about the award; "In the Khorasan region 'Bakhshi' is the title given to a musician who is perfect. He must be able to compose, sing, play, make musical instruments and even know stories and narrate tales. One can hardly find any such artists these days." Soleimani sang in the three languages spoken in Khorasan province, namely Persian, Turkic and Kurdish.
Throughout his career he participated in many international concerts and venues, but was more popular in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
than anywhere else where he believed his music was more appreciated. Soleimani often spoke out about his perceived distinct lack of following in his native country which disappointed him, once saying "Non-Iranian nations especially the French know me better than my fellow countrymen since they have a passion for art and music." He also performed notably at the Festival of Iranian Arts in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
In 1990, Ghorban Soleimani was accoladed 'Best and Most Authentic Musician Award by the Festival of Revolutionary Songs and Music. In 1991, he received the honorary title “Real National Treasure" at a music festival held in Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Death
He died in his village of birth Aliabad, of pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on Sunday January 20, 2008 aged 87 according to the Tehran Times
Tehran Times
Tehran Times began its work in 1979 as a foreign language newspaper to air the voice of the Islamic Revolution. The policy that the newspaper has been following has been based on the guideline set by the revered martyr Ayatollah Mohammad Hossein Beheshti who said: Tehran Times is not state-owned...
, although other sources have falsely reported that he was 85 at time of death.
His body was buried in the village the following day on January 21, and his funeral was attended by numerous famous artists and cultural officials in the region.
Ghorban is survived by 14 children, and his son, aged 50 (as of January 2008) Alireza had performed with his father on numerous occasions. Two of Soleimani's daughters have also become musicians.