Sasanian music

Music in Sasanian Iran#

The history of musical performance in Sassanid Iran is however better documented than earlier periods. This is specially more evident in the context of Zoroastrian ritual. Because happiness, laughter and festivity was cherished in Zoroastrianism, entertainers like jesters and musicians were highly esteemed. They maintained a central role in daily court assemblies. Stability and prosperity in the empire was reflected in the activities of jesters, clowns and musicians. By the time of Khusro Parviz, the Sassanid royal court was the host of prominent musicians. In general the period of Khosro Parviz reign is regarded as a “golden age of Iranian music” and himself is shown in a large relief at Taq-e Bostan among his musicians and himself holding bow and arrows and while standing in a boat amidst a group of harpists. The relief depicts two boats and the whole picture shows these boats at “two successive moments within the same panel”.

Instruments#

The musical instruments which appear distinctly on the Sassanid sculptures are the chang(harp), the sorna(Horn), the Daf, the drum, the ney, the barbat(oud), the kamanche And the tanbur The harp is triangular, and has seven strings; it is held in the lap, and played apparently by both hands. The drum is of small size. The horns and pipes are too crudely represented for their exact character to be apparent. Concerted pieces seem to have been sometimes played by harpers only, of whom as many as ten or twelve joined in the execution. Mixed bands were more numerous. In one instance the number of performers amounts to twenty−six, of whom seven play the harp, an equal number the flute or pipe, three the horn, one the drum, while eight are too slightly rendered for their instruments to be recognized. A portion of the musicians occupy an elevated orchestra, to which there is access by a flight of steps.

Famous Sasanian musicians#

By the time of Khusro Parviz, the Sassanid royal court was the host of prominent musicians such as

Ramtin#

: He was also a remarkable musician.

Bamshad#

: He was another court musician of Khosrau II. He used to play early morning (dawn) songs which could please the king and people and bring happiness to the society.

Nakisa#

: She was also the court musician of the Sassanid Empire. The main theme of her songs were in praise of King Khosrau II. The main instrument that she played was a harp. (written by Zahra Neshat-Taherzadeh)

Sarkash#

: Though not as renowned as Barbod or Nakisa, he was a remarkable musician.

Barbad#

: Barbad is remembered in many documents and has been named as remarkably high skilled. : He has been credited to have given an organisation of musical system consisting of seven “Royal modes” named Khosrovani, thirty derivative modes named lahn, and 360 melodies named dastan. : These numbers are in accordance with Sassanid’s calendar of number of days in a week, month, and year. The theories based on which these modal system was based are not known, however the writers of later period have left a list of these modes and melodies. : These names include some of epic forms such as kin-e Iraj (lit. the Vengeance of Iraj), kin-e siavash (lit. the Vengeance of Siavash), and Taxt-e Ardashir (lit. the Throne of Ardashir) and some connected with the glories of Sassanid royal court such as Bagh-e shirin (lit the garden of Shirin), Bagh-e Shahryar (lit. the Sovereign’s Garden), and haft Ganj (lit. the seven threasures). There are also some of a descriptive nature like roshan cheragh (lit. bright lights).

Further reading#

• Abdolhossein Zarinkoob “Ruzgaran : tarikh-e Iran az aghaz ta soghut-e saltnat-e Pahlavi” Sokhan, 1999.