1. Before introducing Iranian traditional music, we must consider some facts. The music of any
country is like a mirror in which one can see the social status, change, and decline of that
society. Fine arts reflect the feelings and morals of people and nations, and since nations have
different preferences, their arts are also different. Persian Music
Original Iranian music, also known as traditional Iranian music and Iranian classical music,
includes instruments (musical style system), melody (song) and song. This type of music,
which existed before Christianity and has reached our time mostly in the form of heart to-
heart, is one of the prominent manifestations of Iranian culture. The most pleasant and
comfortable parts of it remain to this day.
Iranian music influenced the music of most parts of Central Asia, including Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Greece. In addition, each of them played a role
in shaping the music. Barbad, Nakisa, and Ramtin were the most famous Iranian musicians in
ancient Iran.
Radif (which means order and is a collection of several traditional melodic examples) was
registered in October 9002 as the first independent Iranian heritage on the UNESCO
Intangible World Heritage List.
The engravings on the walls of ancient caves show that the Iranians were interested in music
from the very beginning. Iranian traditional music, as mentioned in the books, has influenced
world music. Modern European music is based on the principles and rules of Mohammad
Farabi, an Iranian scientist and musician.
Iranian traditional music is a collection of songs and melodies that have been created in this
country over the centuries and reflect the morals of Iranians. In other words, the special
beauty and form of Iranian music invite the listener to think and achieve in an immaterial
world. On the other hand, the passion and beats of this music are rooted in the ancient and
epic spirit of the Iranians, which makes the listener move and strive.
Iranian traditional music consists of twelve maqams, among which seven maqams are more
independent than the other maqams and are called instruments. There are five other affiliates
that are part of the device and are called the songs. In addition to the seven instruments and
five songs, 992 other corners are models for musicians and singers.
Iranian traditional music through history
There are two important and main periods during which Iranian music developed.
• The first period of Iranian music's development
The musical works of prominent Iranian scholars such as Abu Ali Sina, Farabi, Qutbuddin
Shirazi, and Abdul Qahir Maragheh show that Iranian music had a scientific aspect until the
middle of the 51th century, but after that, due to special social and religious conditions in
Iran, little attention was paid to music. During this period, no one left a significant impact on
music, and artists were disappointed.