SAINA ZAMANIAN: EXPLORING DASTGĀH – THE PERSIAN MODAL MUSIC SYSTEM
This seminar offers an introduction to Dastgāh, the modal system of Persian classical music. Through listening examples, analytical discussion, and the collective performance of selected pieces from the repertoire, participants will explore the structure of the dastgāh system, its modal organization, aesthetic principles, and its central role within the Persian musical tradition.
The seminar will also examine the practice of improvisation, the radīf repertoire as the foundation of Persian classical music, and the cultural and historical contexts that have shaped its development. Particular attention will be given to the transmission of musical knowledge, the relationship between oral tradition and creativity, and the expressive qualities that characterize Persian modal music.
Open to musicians, researchers, and anyone interested in Persian music and modal traditions, the seminar aims to provide both a theoretical and practical understanding of the Dastgāh musical language.
