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Composer:
Gregory H. Aslani
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Persian Classical Arrangements:
Homayoon Beigi
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Poetry:
Davood Rahni
and Saadi
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Style:
Fusion of Comtemporary Music and Persian Classical Music
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Performers:
Noavaran Ensemble:
Contemporary Style Musicians:
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Persian Classical Modes:
Avaz-e Dashti, Dastgah-e Shur, and Dastgah-e Chahargah
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Program Notes:
Beyond Solitude is a fusion of contemporary (tonal/atonal) sounds with
a specific style of microtonal Persian Classical Music. It employs
two groups of musicians, a Contemporary Trio and a Persian Classical
Quartet who begin a two way communication.
The first movement of the piece, although written in contemporary spirit, has
been greatly influenced by Persian classical melodies. It symbolizes the
start of a dialog in the contemporary musical language with a Persian attitude
to speak to the Persian Quartet. In response, the Quartet will debut its
24-division well-tempered interpretation of the Deilaman Gousheh of the
Persian Classical Avaz of Dashti. This is followed by a dialog back and
forth in the two dialects trying to communicate with slight variations in
style. The Trio takes note from the rhythmic piece portrayed by the Quartet in
the mother Dastgah of Shur to transit, in form, into tonality which is more
compatible with the Dastgah of Chahargah. This time, when the Quartet
responds with its interpretation of the opening of Chahargah (Daramad),
the Trio attempts to express itself with its gained experience of the dialog,
only to cut short at times to listen and gain more insight.
By the end of the piece, the comfort level increases to a level of confidence
that there is no hindrance in speaking each side's dialect. In fact the
conclusion proves that the two styles, with a slight flexibility, can coexist
in harmony and provide a positive level of dialog without having to set aside
their respective originality.
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Synopsis (by Davood Rahni):
Inspired by his life-long integration of Eastern and Western
cultural experiences, Greg Aslani has composed this musical piece
as played through the dialogue of the two groups of performers.
Persian sound (Iranian traditional microtonal scale) and Western
contemporary sound are synergistically intertwined to create a
peaceful ambiance of Persian music and the message of peace.
During the first interlude, thirteen minutes in duration,
flute, harp and guitar trio create a bridge between the East and
the West. Persian music is then progressively played by
Tar,
Tombak,
Daf, percussion and
vocal performance of the Noavaran Ensemble
(www.NoavaranEnsemble.com) in conjunction with
the recital by Babak Taleghani of a poem by Davood Rahni. The latter
performance is interspersed with flute, harp and guitar. The finale
is a true convergence of both ensembles.
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