The radif
The radif is the traditional repertoire of melodic pieces, called gusheh, passed from master to student. In 2009 UNESCO inscribed the radif of Iranian music on its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Seven dastgahs
The gushehs are grouped into modal systems. There are seven main dastgahs:
- Shur
- Mahur
- Homayoun
- Segah
- Chahargah
- Rast-Panjgah
- Nava
Five avaz
Five further modes, called avaz, are usually counted as branches of Shur or Homayoun: Abu-Ata, Bayat-e Tork, Afshari and Dashti (from Shur), and Bayat-e Esfahan (from Homayoun).
Improvisation
A performer chooses a dastgah and moves through its gushehs, improvising within their melodic patterns. Two performances of the same dastgah are never quite the same.
Share this guide
Published by
ZIBADISPLAY — the entertainment reference of the ZIBADIS network, founded by Masoud Moghaddam.
