Persian traditional music, also called Iranian traditional music or Persian classical music, is the classical music of Iran, which was historically known as Persia. This music has features that developed over many years, including classical, medieval, and modern times. It also influenced areas that are part of Greater Iran.

Because musical traditions were shared with neighboring cultures throughout history, many of Iran's classical musical scales are similar to those of nearby regions.

Iran's classical music has been used as a spiritual practice, just as it has been throughout history, and is used less for entertainment. It is mainly performed by people in high social positions, unlike folk and popular music, which are enjoyed by people from all parts of society. However, some elements of classical music have been included in folk and pop songs.

History

The history of music in Iran began thousands of years ago. Ancient records from the Elam civilization in the southwest and the Oxus culture in the northeast show that music was part of life even in early times.

Not much is known about the music of the Medes, Achaemenids, and Parthians, but old writings and observations from royal courts, public performances, religious ceremonies, and military events suggest a rich musical culture. In Iranian myths, a king named Jamshid is said to have created music.

During the Sasanian Empire, more details about music are available. Instruments and musicians from this time are recorded. A court poet-musician named Barbad is credited with developing modal music. He may have created the lute and the musical system that later became dastgah and maqam. Barbad is believed to have organized a system with seven "royal modes," 30 derived modes, and 360 melodies.

Khosrow II, a ruler of the Sasanian Empire, supported music greatly. His court musician, Barbad, is said to have created a system with seven modal structures (Royal Modes), 30 derivative modes, and 365 melodies linked to days, months, and years.

Iran’s academic classical music includes melodies from Sasanian musicians and theories from Islamic-era scholars like Avicenna, Farabi, Qotb-ed-Din Shirazi, and Safi-ed-Din Urmawi. It is also connected to the Safavid Empire (16th–18th centuries). During the Qajar era (19th century), classical music evolved with Western influences. Mirza Abdollah, a respected musician, helped shape modern teaching of classical music. His work, called Radif, is the oldest recorded version of the seven dastgah system, a reorganization of the older 12 maqam system. In the late Qajar and early Pahlavi periods, many compositions used classical modes and Western harmonies.

Western music became popular in the 20th century, which some traditionalists worried would harm Iran’s music. Before the 1950s, classical musicians dominated Iran’s music industry. In 1968, Dariush Safvat and Nur-Ali Borumand, with help from Reza Ghotbi, created the Center for Preservation and Propagation of Iranian Music. This effort helped protect traditional music in the 1970s.

In 2009, the "Radif of Iranian music" was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is described as the traditional collection of Iran’s classical music.

Characteristics

Iran's classical art music uses both improvisation and written compositions. It is based on special scales and tunes, including twelve Dastgahs and Avazes. Music can change greatly from beginning to end, often switching between calm, thoughtful pieces and lively, skillful performances called tahrir. The common collection of music includes over 200 short melodies (guše), grouped into seven modes (dastgāh). Two of these modes have smaller modes called āvāz. All of these together form the radif, which has different versions based on the teachings of specific masters (ostād).

By the end of the Safavid Empire, complex musical pieces with 10, 14, and 16 beats were no longer performed. During the early Qajar era, rhythmic patterns (osul) were replaced with a meter based on the qazal, and the maqam system was changed into the radif system. Today, rhythmic pieces use beats from 2 to 7, with some exceptions. The reng is always in an 8-beat structure.

A typical Iranian classical performance has five parts: pišdarāmad (a composed, rhythmic piece), čahārmezrāb (a fast, rhythmic piece with repeated patterns), āvāz (the central, improvised piece), tasnif (a composed song with classical poetry), and reng (a rhythmic closing piece). A performance is like a group of connected pieces. Sometimes, these parts may be changed or left out.

Iran's classical music is based on singing, and the vocalist is very important. The singer decides the mood and chooses which dastgāh matches that mood. In many cases, the singer also picks the lyrics. If a singer is needed, they are supported by at least one wind or string instrument and one type of percussion. There may be more instruments, but the singer remains the main focus. In some tasnif songs, musicians may sing along with the singer during certain verses.

The use of religious texts as lyrics has mostly been replaced by the works of medieval Sufi poets, especially Hafez and Rumi.

Instruments

Traditional music in Iran uses many different musical instruments. String instruments include the chang (a type of harp), qanun, santur, rud (also called oud or barbat), tar, dotar, setar, tanbur, and kamanche. Wind instruments include the sorna (also called zurna or karna), ney, and neyanban. Percussion instruments include the tombak, kus, daf (also called dayere), naqare, and dohol.

Some instruments, such as the sorna, neyanban, dohol, and naqare, are not usually found in classical music but are used in folk music. Before the middle of the Safavid Empire, the chang was an important instrument in Iranian music. Later, it was replaced by the qanun (a type of zither) and eventually by the western piano. The tar is the main string instrument used in performances. The setar is often played by Sufi musicians. The western violin is also used, but Iranian musicians prefer a different way of tuning it. The ghaychak, which is a type of fiddle, is being used again in classical music after many years of not being included.