Nasim-e Tarab Ensemble | Classical Iranian Music

A cross-cultural approach by the Nasim-e Tarab Ensemble of virtuoso musicians from Iran as part of the Maqam Beyond Borders project.

The five-member Nasim-e Tarab Ensemble comprises some of Iran’s most virtuoso musicians, generally regarded as the generation with the most demanding task of preserving, promoting, and teaching the classical music of Iran while enhancing its creativity in, historically, one of the most challenging times of its development.

The Nasim-e Tarab Ensemble performs a suite of classical Iranian music composed and arranged by Saeid Kordmafi, based on his extensive research into the music of the Near and Middle East and Central Asia, with a view to approach classical Iranian music from a cross-cultural and historically informed perspective. The repertoire covers an extended historical span (from the 17th to the 21st century) encompassing rhythmic, formal, and modal entities drawn from the neighbouring traditions in the maqam realm.

This event is part of the extensive Maqam Beyond Nation project, jointly organised by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) of London University, UK and Universita Ca Foscari, Venezia, Italy. Nasim-e Tarab, meaning “The Breeze of Musical Joy,” comes from the heart of a troubled and war-ridden region with a simple yet powerful message that we have far more in common to celebrate than differences to fight over.