Music Making in Iran from the 15th to the Early 20th Century

This presentation focuses on Music Making in Iran from the 15th to the Early 20th Century, recently published by Edinburgh University Press in association with Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilization and Aga Khan Music Programme. The book provides a comprehensive study of music in Iran spanning from the Timurid period in the fifteenth century to the end of the Qajar period in the early twentieth century. It delves into various aspects of music making during this era, including the centres of musical patronage, the roles of patrons, music theorists, and musical treatises. The book is structured into two parts, each comprising three chapters. Part I explores the historical and social contexts of music in Iran, examining aspects such as the social organization of musicians and the influence of courtesan and concubine culture. Part II delves into music theories and practices, addressing topics such as modal entities, court repertoires, rhythmic structures, and the evolution of genres and forms of composition. Moreover, the study promises to illuminate the historical connections between Persian music and neighbouring regions, such as the Azeri mugam. It also introduces methodologies that could be applied to the study of other large-scale ordered repertoires in the Middle East and Central Asia, including the Iraqi maqām, Tajik-Uzbek shashmaqom, and the Uyghur on ikki muqam. About the Speaker: Amir Hosein Pourjavady holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from UCLA and a second Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from CUNY, Graduate Center. He has extensive teaching experience at the University of Tehran and UCLA. His scholarly contributions encompass the editing of several musical treatises, numerous articles, encyclopaedia entries, book reviews, and CDs. Dr Pourjavady is also a proficient Persian setār player, having performed widely with renowned Iranian musicians.