HarmonyTalk Journal’s Twentieth Anniversary Celebration

On the 10th of Khordad, 1403 (equivalent to May 30, 2024), the twentieth anniversary celebration of the online journal “HarmonyTalk” took place at the Ersbārān Cultural Center. The event garnered such interest from enthusiasts that the venue was completely filled.


At the beginning of the program, after a warm welcome by the experienced host, Sofia Monshipour, a video clip showcasing twenty years of the journal’s activities was played. Following that, the National Youth Orchestra of Iran, led by Arvin Sedaqatkish (who is also one of the authors of HarmonyTalk), performed pieces composed by Hossein Dehlavi and Parviz Meshkatian.

Later, Sadjad Pourqannad (the editor-in-chief of HarmonyTalk) presented a report on the journal’s two decades of activity. This comprehensive report will be published in upcoming issues of the journal.


Subsequently, Babak Khazraei was invited to speak. He emphasized the importance of sustaining HarmonyTalk’s activities and shared his initial acquaintance with the journal. Khazraei noted that over time, HarmonyTalk has evolved toward a more scholarly approach.

Khazraei also recalled how, twenty years ago, there were predictions that print magazines would soon cease to exist, and today, we see that this prediction has indeed come true.

Babak Khazraei’s Conclusion: Babak Khazraei concluded by expressing his hope to witness the magazine’s 30th and 40th anniversary celebrations and its continued operation.

Invitation to Mohammadreza Fayyaz: After Babak Khazraei’s speech, Mohammadreza Fayyaz was invited to speak.

Fayyaz stated: “Every phenomenon, whether it be a media outlet or a group of people, is the culmination of its own era. HarmonyTalk is also a combination of two parts: harmony and talk. It signifies an era where it was believed that a harmonious dialogue could exist. The same concept that, when translated into music, emerges as polyphonic music, and in human relationships, it becomes a dialogue between people in a harmonious and affectionate manner.”

After Fayaz’s speech, the Ordibehesht Choir led by Hamid Askari was invited to perform. The program performed by this group included pieces by Hamid Askari and several folk pieces harmonized by Rubik Gregorian.

Following this performance, Alireza Miralinaghi was invited to speak. Miralinaghi, referring to the efforts of Sadjad Pourghannad, the editor-in-chief of this site, said:

“It is historically very important that we are in an era where encyclopedias no longer have practical use in their old form and have actually become non-paper and digital encyclopedias that are constantly updated. HarmonyTalk is also important and valuable for this reason because it has such a characteristic.”

Miralinaghi continued to refer to the position of HarmonyTalk in historiography and considered its quality much higher than other sites that exist today, saying: “Most of the sites we see today are misleading rather than valuable and credible.”

Miralinaghi further stated: “I belong to a generation before the internet and have struggled to align myself with the generation of internet audiences, and if I am active on this site today, it is because of Sadjad Pourghannad’s insistence.”

After Alireza Miralinaghi’s speech, the Eighties Band came on stage with performances of 1980s-style pop music, which concluded the celebration.

Post a Comment

Required fields are marked *
*
*
Your email is never shared.

Farhad Poupel: The Voice of the Shahnameh in the Orchestras Around the World

In an era when almost no trace of contemporary Iranian music can be heard in international concert halls, except (so-called!) avant-garde works that owe their existence solely to the fashionable slogans of the “pseudo-intellectual” crowd who have seized the already meager resources for performing classical music from the true artists of the field, the numerous performances of Farhad Poupel’s works shine as a ray of hope for lovers of sincere musical art. Without resorting to trendy slogans, he has kept the flame of Iranian classical music alive purely through the power of his artistry.

Five Major Myths About Mozart’s Life

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the renowned Austrian composer, is undoubtedly one of the greatest geniuses in the history of classical music. However, his life is surrounded by numerous myths and legends, some of which are not based on facts. This article explores five of the most common misconceptions about Mozart’s life.

From Past Days…

Principles of Violin Playing (VII)

4.3.1.3 Regarding the great linear distance and the unusual distance between the first and forth fingers, the first finger while playing the doubles of ninth and tenth interval, can be twisted in the knuckle area and the point mentioned in 3.1.2.5 paragraph in relation to the way first finger is placed indicating that the first joint of this finger in back of hand must be in line with the direction of forearm and left hand is not true here.

Iranian Fallacies – Global Performance

One of the most important criteria for measuring the quality of a piece of classical music is number of times the piece has been performance by different ensembles and orchestras in different eras. This belief has become so pervasive in some societies, such as Iranian society, that it is considered the only criterion for measuring the quality of a piece of classical music.

A note on “Illusion or Ingenuity” article

The author of the “Illusion or Ingenuity” article, who is apprehensive of the future of the Music in Iran, enumerates some symptoms of the music weakening in the country for example decreasing in the quality of the music as well as lack of the innovation in creating them, a gradual decline in the music public taste and the drop in the application of layered sound and polyphony in music. He explains that one reason for this gradual weakening might be our unawareness of the fact that we are not so intelligent nation. He believes that we, Iranians, have a comprehensive “Illusion of the high national intelligence “that make us ignorant of the unfavorable realities of our music and consequently no searching for the remedy is taking place. His point of view brings to the mind a patient who thinks he is healthy, therefore delays the treatment and finally is killed by the disease. The author also refers to the national difficulties which gradually will lower the national intelligence score such as the increased rate of the immigration and brain drain, low quality of the nutrition, incompetence of the education system and etc and predicts that the condition of the music of Iran might deteriorate in the future because of the mentioned illusion of its great status.

Kayvan Mirhadi and O.R.P Qaurtet

Establishing O.R.P. Quartet is Kayvan Mirhadi’s latest activity as a guitarist, composer and conductor of Kamerata Orchestra. Besides working with this Quartet, Mirhadi is busy these days recording and mixing some of his own works as well as some pieces by 20th century composers. O.R.P Quartet performed a concert in Rasht, Gilan Province in late May 2016 and offered a master class.

Farhad Poupel’s piece, Road to Bach, performed at Suntory Hall

On June 19, 2021 , young Iranian composer and pianist, Farhad Poupel’s piece, Road to Bach, was performed at the prestigious Suntory Hall by the great Japanese pianist, Kotaro Fukuma. The piece was commissioned by Kotaro Fukuma to have its world premiere in Suntory Hall during a concert by the same name.

A Look at Ali Tajvidi’s Manifold Musical Activities (II)

Tajvidi thought of studying harmony and orchestration with Houshang Ostvar (who was eight years younger than him) at a time when he had gained a reputation among musicians. His humbleness, making him willing to kneel before the scholars at any age and position, became the key to his scientific success. After this period, Tajvidi made some of his works polyphonic, the most prominent of which is “Burn” set to a poem by Abdullah Ulfat. However, his ability to make his works polyphonic was not so great to make him self-sufficient; so he depended on musicians such as Farhad Fakhreddini, Fereydoun Naseri, Kambiz Roshanravan, Fereydoun Shahbazian and Morteza Hananeh for the arrangement of his compositions.

Principles of Violin Playing (II)

Since for playing violin, it’s necessary that the player’s palms and fingers be inclined toward the fingerboard, therefore, the player, while bringing up his hand, should turn it toward the fingerboard.

Timeless or Timely: The Role of Historical Context in Defining Artistic Value

Imagine that, in the course of historical research, we discover a musical piece whose compositional techniques (including form, melody, texture, and orchestration) resemble those of a second-rate 19th-century composition. But further investigation reveals that this work predates that period by 200 years. Can we still deem it insignificant? Certainly not. Here, the first major role of historical judgment becomes evident.

Musical Sense or Technique?

One of the most popular terms used by Iranian instrumentalists is the existence or a lack of musical “sense”. Both musicians and fans of music consider having “sense” while playing music as an important principle to the extent that they use it vis-a-vis having technique.

Polyphony in Iranian Music (III)

In heterophonic variant, two performers perform a single melody simultaneously and change it. Performing and changing a single melody simultaneously by two performers leads to the coincidence of different voices.