Music Program Iranian Heritage Day at The ROM 2012 (26 May 2012) Main Stage

Time Name Content Duration Commentary 11:30 Baarbad Persian classical & 30 min Founded by Mehdi Rezania and Tolou Ensemble folklore Roushenas in 2004 for creating innovative and artistic music, Baarbad has been one of [A new the most prolific Iranian-Canadian arrangements by ensembles. Mehdi Rezania for classical Members of Baarbad Ensemble are all compositions by graduated musicians of different Parviz Meshkatian & backgrounds. Hossein Alizadeh as The ensemble has presented music well as Persian programs in various styles and genres from folklore songs for Persian classical and folklore to fusion santur, , , music and recitals. Baarbad Music is a violin, violoncello, winner of Ontario Art Council grants of , and 2011has collaborated with orchestras such vocals] as Sinfonia Toronto & virtuoso musicians such as Hossein Behroozinia. 13:00 Arya Contemporary 5 min Playing violin since 8, Arya learned the art Saaber Persian Fusion of Persian classical music with Iraj Kaavandi and Mehran Mohtady. Later he [performance of became a member of Tehran’s Television violin & orchestra; National Symphonic Orchestra. live violin and He holds a bachelore of music from York recorded music of University and is finishing his MA in string orchestra] music/composition in the same school. 13:05 Zhouwan Kurdish folklore 25 min Zhouwan is a Kurdish folklore ensemble lead by Hossein Zoleikhapour, a pianist, [ new arrangements educator and composer who came to of Kurdish folklore Toronto in 2010. He was the president of songs for keyboard, Shemshal Music Association in Sanandaj for tanbur, violin, 8 years. violoncello, daf & vocal

Amphitheatre

Time Name Content Duration Commentary 16:00 The Circle Persian Pop Music 20 min Lead by Shahab Baradaran, The Circle is a Persian [Compositions inspired by fusion music group which poetries of Rumi, Khayâm & takes the classical Persian Sohrab Sepehri] poetry as well as contemporaries for their songs. They released their first album in 2012 16:30 Afarin Mansouri Ghaliche Project 10 min Afarin holds a bachelor of music from Wilfrid Laurier [video presentation of University and Master traditional making of a degree in composition from Persian rug accompanied by University of Toronto. She “Ghalicheh” composed by A. is the winner of 24th Iranian Mansouri for a harp, flute & Fajr Music Festival in 2008 viola inspired for her composition “The Fallen Soldier” 16:40 Persian Piano A video of Persian Piano 15 min Graduated musicians from performance by Afarin Tehran University and Mansouri, Maziar Heidari, University of Toronto, Saman Shahi, Keyan Emami Persian Piano present the & Pouyan Hamidi style of Persian musicians in composition and performance on piano

Rotunda

Time Name Content Duration Commentary 14:10 Esfahan Live dance & music by 5 min Inspired by dances in the Koohan Beeta Jafara, dance courts of ancient Persia. Ehsan Ghaffari, tar As only remnants of these ancient performances have survived, inspiration has been taken from various dances of for the choreography of this piece by Beeta Jafari. 14:10 Mehrava Persian Classical Music 40 min Founded by Siavash Ensemble Mihandar, Mehrava was [a performance of authentic founded in 2001. Rooted Persian classical music from in the repertoire of the repertoire of Ostad Persian classical music Faramarz Payvar by santur, Mehrava attempts to tar, violin, tombak & vocal] maintain the aesthetic of traditional Persian music by authentic performance. 14:50 Puppet By Vida Ghahremani 5 min show 15:15 Daf Performance of daf ensemble 15 min Araz Nayeb Pashayee is a Ensemble by Araz Studio percussionist specializing in tombak, daf & udu. He has been teaching the Persian percussions for 8 years and has collaborated with many Iranian and non-Iranian musicians. He is finishing his bachelor of music at York University.

Iran Section / Shahnameh Section

Time Name Content Duration Commentary 14:15 Daf Ensemble Performance of daf 15 min Araz Nayeb Pashayee is a ensemble by Araz Studio percussionist specializing in tombak, daf & udu. He has been teaching the Persian percussions for 8 years and has collaborated with many Iranian and non-Iranian musicians. He is finishing his bachelor of music at York University. 14:30 Zâl & Roudâbeh Story telling in English 45 The story of “Zâl & Roudâbeh” with live music is one of the most romantic and most interesting stories in Shahnameh (Book of Kings). Ariel Balevi the renown story teller will be accompanied by two palyers Rouzbeh Akbari & Mehrdad Geramifard 16:00 Contemporary [Ardavan Kamkar initiated 40 min Born in 1977 in Fars, Iran Persian contemporary Santur Mehdi Rezania is an educator, Classical playing. It is a unique, composer producer and santur vibrant and highly virtuosic player. He started learning style in combination of santur at 13 in his hometown of traditional elements with Abadeh and then went to those of harmony and Kamkar Music School to learn counterpoint in western the advance level of santur classical music. playing under Ardavan Kamkar. Rezania a former student of In 2004, he founded Baarbad Ardavan Kamkar will Music with Toloe Roushenas. present a new program in He holds a bachelor of music this genre accompanied by from York University and vocalist Saleh Lavaee. currently is finishing is master degree in music/composition from the same school He released his first album in 2011 and is a winner of Ontario Art Council Grant in 2011.

European Rotunda

Time Name Content Duration Commentary 14:00 Persian Pop Fusion and Pop 20 min Duet of two guitars Music music 15:00 Solo tar Improvisation in 20 min Ehsan Ghaffari a member of Persian classical Baarbad Ensemble will music demonstrate the art of improvisation in Persian classical music 16:00 Duet of violin & Performance of 15 min Vira Burmenko & Mariel viloncello western & Persian Gonzalez of Baarbad Ensemble classical repertoire will perform a program of western & Persian classical music 16:30 Solo tar Persian classical 30 Shahrokh Saeedi will perform a performance music program of Persian classical music in improvisation

Workshop

Time Name Content Duration Commentary 14:30 Santur workshop a general workshop 30 min Mehdi Rezania has learned about the structure and the traditional and the different style of contemporary style of santur playing by santur playing. He will Mehdi Rezania demonstrate and describe the performance of santur playing and its history 16:00 Tar & setar a general workshop 45 min Ehsan Ghaffari a graduate workshop about the structure and student of Tehran the different style of tar University studied tar & setar playing by under Mohsen Nafar & Ehsan Ghaffari Mohammad Reza Lotfi 16:30 Daf & Tombak a general workshop for 30 min workshop all ages about playing tombak & daf by Araz Pashayee