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Event
Sacred Songs of Kurdistan
IMPORTANT UPDATE
Dear friends, we regret to inform that Mr. Moradi as of now still has not received his Visa and unfortunately will not be able to perform in this concert. However, we will continue to have a performance and hope that you will still join us. Mr. Moradi's son Kourosh follows in his father's footsteps, and continues the family legacy and tradition of the music. He will no doubt do a great job to represent the music and give a mesmerizing performance. Accompanied with tombak and daf with the lovely kamancheh playing of Mehdi Bagheri, we hope to create a concert for a night to remember.
We thank you for your understanding and your continued support.
In a rare U.S. appearance, Ali Akbar Moradi performs at the Irvine Council Chamber Hall exploring the rich history of the traditional and sacredl music of Kurdistan performing with his son Kourosh Moradi, Pezhham Akhavass and Mehdi Bagheri as part of this ensemble.
Ali Akbar Moradi is the undisputed master of the Kurdish instrument tanbur, a three stringed, long necked lute, and was named one of the top 50 master musicians in the world. This performance will feature a series of sacred and secular pieces that demonstrate the unending beauty of ancient Persia, telling a story of an ancient land with roots deep and vast.
Meditative improvisation blends with centuries-old compositions in this collection of pre-Islamic Yarsan religious music, thought to be one of the most ancient, deep-rooted musical traditions in the world. The tanbur has always been considered a sacred instrument associated with the Kurdish Sufi music of Western Iran.
Accompanying him and continuing the family legacy of the music will be his son Kourosh Moradi who will accompany him on the tanbur and Pezhham Akhavass, a virtuoso of Persian percussion, who will add his masterful Tombak drum to the family ensemble. Mehdi Bagheri will perform Kamancheh, and represents the finest in the younger generation of Kurdish/Iranian music.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
ALIAKBAR MORADI
Tanbur
Aliakbar Moradi is the master of the Tanbur, a kind of long necked lute of Persia that originates from Kurdistan known to be a sacred instrument of the Sufis. This three stringed instrument is thought to be one of the oldest in the world, having a documented 5000 year old history. Moradi's mastery of the tanbur and his commanding vocals, make him one of the leading masters of traditional Persian music in the world today. Born in Guran, Iran, Ali Akbar Moradi began to study tanbur at age seven, eventually mastering the entire Kurdish magham repertoire. His incomparable style has afforded him performances throughout the world representing the top mastery of this region and the music of Kurdish Iranians. He currently resides in Kurdistan, Iran where he teaches tanbur and continues to develop the legacy of the instrument and the music. He also is the leader of the family legacy as the Moradi family.
KOUROSH MORADI
Tanbur/Daf
In addition to studying tanbur with his father, Kourosh Moradi studied daf with master Sufis of the Yarsan order and tombak with Master Hamid Moghadam while growing up in Kurdistan. Coming from a musicial family, Kourosh has recorded and performed around the world continuing the family legacy of the tanbr with many esteemed masters of Kurdish/Iranian music. He has become a kind of ambassador of music in the United States as he now lives and teaches in Southern California. continuing the family legacy and the deep rooted history of this ancient music and sharing it with new audiences from around the world. He continues to perform in conjunction with his father and continue the family legacy of sharing the music with audiences around the world.
PEZHHAM AKHAVASS
Tombak/Daf/percussion
Percussionist Pezhham Akhavass is a modern day master of the Tombak and Daf percussive instruments. He has a degree in music from the University in Tehran and has recorded and performed around the world with the leading masters of Persian music. He now lives in San Francisco, where he teaches and performs. Pezhham's unique approach to rhythm has defined him as one of the leading figures in his generation for his ability to create new and innovative techniques in tombak, creating a new dimension in sound.
MEHDI BAGHERI
Kamancheh
Mehdi Bagheri, born in 1981, is one of the most talented musicians of Kamancheh from his generation. As a well known Kurdish Iranian musician, he began being a serious student of music from the age of 12. After exploring many different instruments including Tombak and Setar, he found his true love in the Kamancheh. Mehdi received his masters degree from the Arak University in 2004 and was a student of masters of Kurdish music including Ardeshir Kamkar. Mehdi has performed around the world and recorded with the masters of Persian music. Since 2010 he resides in Southern California where he is sharing his music through concerts and teaching.
Instruments:
Tanbur- 3 stringed lute, ancient and haunting, spiritual/sacred, entrancing
Daf- frame drum with metal ringletts in its interior, crisp sharp sounds that have trance like effects
Tombak - goblett drum of Persia that makes intricate and delicate rhythms with the rolling and snapping of the fingers on the side of the drum in patterns that make complicated rhythms and sounds
Kamancheh- a Persian upright fiddle with a bowed string instrument, in the violin family
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LocationIrvine Council Chamber Hall (View)
1 Civic Center Plaza
Irvine, CA 92606
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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