Dance & Music

Radif of Iranian Music

The Radif of Iranian music is the traditional repertoire of the classical music of Iran that forms the essence of Persian musical culture. More than 250 melodic units, called ''Gusheh,'' are arranged into cycles, with an underlying modal layer providing the backdrop against which a variety of melodic motifs are set. Although the main performance practice of Iranian traditional music unfolds through improvisation according to the mood of the performer and in response to the audience, musicians spend years learning to master the Radif as the set of musical tools for their performances and compositions.

Bakhshi Music of Khorāsān

In Khorasan Province, the Bakhshis are renowned for their musical skill with the ''dotār,'' a two-stringed, long-necked lute. They recount Islamic and Gnostic poems and epics containing mythological, historical or legendary themes. Their music, known as ''Maghami,'' consists of instrumental and/or vocal pieces, performed in Turkish, Kurdish, Turkmen and Persian. ''Navāyī'' is the most widespread magham: diverse, vocal, rhythmless, accompanied by Gnostic poems.