Music and Song in Persia (RLE Iran B) : The Art of Avaz

The art of Persian singing (avaz) is unsurpassed in delicacy of expression and grace, transporting the listener into a state wherein the veils of time and subjective conciousness are lifted. This book is the first full-length analysis of the theory and practice of Persian singing, demonstrating the centrality of the Persian elements in the music of the Islamic Middle Ages, their relevance to both contemporary and traditional Iranian music and their interaction with classical Persian poetry and metrics. Cover 1 Music and Song in Persia 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 List of Figures 9 List of Tables 11 Transliteration of Persian Letters 12 Preface 16 Methodology 16 Sources and Delimitations 20 Note on Research Sources 21 Acknowledgements 23 1. Historical Background of Persia and Persian Music 27 2. Music, Islam, Mysticism and Proper Performance 39 3. Preservation and Propagation of Persian Music 55 4. The Theory of Persian Music 91 5. Persian Vocal Music 142 6. Background of Perso-Arab Poetic Structure 164 Conclusion 188 Appendices 191 A Attributes of the Beloved in Persian Poetry 191 B Radif Texts and Translations 216 C Metric Analysis 273 D Sequence of Gushe From Four Main Sources 286 E Persian Instruments 303 F Notation and Transcriptions 310 Epilogue 360 Bibliography 363 Glossary of Terms and Persons 382 General Index 390 The Art of Avaz A full-length analysis of the theory and practice of Persian singing, this title demonstrates the centrality of the Persian elements in the music of the Islamic Middle Ages, their relevance to both contemporary and traditional Iranian music and their interaction with classical Persian poetry and metrics.