Mirza Abdollah

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Mirza Abdollah, in full Agha Mirza Abdollah Farahani (1843 to 1918), was an Iranian player of the tar and the setar, two stringed instruments from Persian classical music. He was born in Farahan. Together with his younger brother Mirza Hossein-Qoli he was taught by their father Ali-Akbar Farahani, himself a well-known musician. He is regarded as one of the most important musicians in the history of Iran.

Music and breakthrough

His name is above all linked to the radif, the body of melodic models and pieces on which Persian classical music rests. His version for tar and setar became the best known and the most widely practised among contemporary Persian musicians. This was because he collected and ordered a large repertoire of traditional pieces, and because he liked to share his knowledge. He was a beloved teacher. His students included Abolhasan Saba, Esmaeil Ghahremani, Ali-Naqi Vaziri, Darvish Khan and Ahmad Ebadi.

Influence

His connection with the Baha'i Faith and with mystical orders was regarded as a source of his openness and generosity. Letters from 'Abdu'l-Bahá encouraged him to preserve and broaden classical music, and to shift its themes from sorrow and regret to hope and spiritual joy. In this way he became a key figure in the cultural revival that Iran experienced in the nineteenth century.

Listening

Mentioned in other articles

• Persian classical music GenreIn the nineteenth century Mirza Abdollah recorded this entire repertoire, the radif.