MOHAMMAD GHAVIHELM & KHOSRO SOLTANI

The program has been changed due to visa problems. Khosro Soltani will play instead of Pouyan Biglar. We apologize for this change.

Mohammad Ghavihelm (tombak, daf and dohol) and Khosro Soltani (ney, balaban and surna) perform an improvisation concert on various Iranian classical and folk instruments.

Ney, balaban and surna are wind instruments. The ney (reed flute) is a classical instrument while the balaban and the surna occur in folk music. The balaban has a rather sad sound, while the surna – as its name in Persian indicates – is a festive instrument. The sound of the ney is associated with mysticism.
Tombak, daf and dohol are percussion instruments (membranophones). The tombak is a vase-shaped wooden drum, the daf is a kind of Iranian tambourine, and the folk dohol is a larger two-sided drum.

Ghavihelm (°1951) and Soltani (°1952) are among the Iranian master musicians who emigrated to Europe at a young age and built up a flourishing career there. They play western instruments (flute and percussion respectively bassoon and recorder) and have taught at various music institutes for decades, but at the same time they have always kept their love for Iranian music. They have been playing together since they were young. In this concert they continue the tradition of Iranian improvisation, based on the classical radif and the maqams of folk music.

Mohammad Ghavihelm: tombak, daf and dohol
Khosro Soltani: ney, balaban and surna