Traditional Persian music

We are opening the fourth season of the Music Magic Club with a concert of traditional Persian music! This music is characterized by a unique modal system, subtle microtones, and rhythmic structures derived from Persian poetry, which is why you can hear 5, 7, or 12-beat rhythms that are less common in Europe!

On stage, we will see three virtuosos of Persian music. The santur (Persian hammered dulcimer) will be played by Japanese musician Masato Tani, who studied under renowned Iranian masters. Although originally from Japan, Masato speaks fluent Persian and performs Persian music with great authenticity. Joining him will be Iranian musician Dariush Rasouli, playing the Persian flute – the ney.

They will be joined by Iranian Kurd Arad Emamgholi, who plays the traditional percussion instrument – the daf (a frame drum with rings). He began learning to play the daf in his childhood at a Sufi house. Although this instrument is often associated with Sufi and folk music, today it is increasingly used in the performance of classical Persian music as well.

About the performers:

Masato Tani is an acclaimed santur player and ethnomusicologist from Japan. He holds an important position in the world of classical Persian music: he studied at the Tehran University of Art and won the Encouragement Award at the first Iranian Student Music Competition (1998) – a rare achievement for a musician not from Iran. He is the author of the book Traditional Iranian Music: Orality, Physicality and Improvisation (2024), which introduces global audiences to the subtleties of Persian music. He is currently a professor at Kobe University.

Dariush Rasouli is an Iranian-born Persian flute (ney) performer who studied at the Tehran University of Art and Music and learned from prominent Persian music masters, including Mohammad Ali Kiyaninejad and Hasan Kasai. He has lived in Warsaw since 2004, actively performing in Europe as a soloist and collaborating with various musicians and ensembles. Rasouli is the founder of the Persian-Polish ensemble PersoPolish, has played at numerous international festivals, recorded music for albums and films, and has appeared as a soloist with various European philharmonic orchestras.

Arad Emamgholi began playing the daf at the age of 5 and started his musical career in 1982. He has performed internationally, collaborated with renowned composers Ustad Ahmad Pejman, Fariborz Lachini, and Nasir Razzazi, as well as famous singers. Arad conducts workshops and participates in various music projects, including the Hamdam Trio with ney master Dariush Rasouli.