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.

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Nasser Masoudi: The Voice of Gilan and a Legacy of Iranian Music

In Iranian music, certain singers have become emblematic of their homelands through their distinctive voices. Historical figures such as Eghbal Sultan, who epitomized the grandeur of Azerbaijani music, and Taj Isfahani, who conveyed the authentic essence of Isfahan, serve as notable examples from the Qajar era. Nasser Masoudi occupies a similar position; his voice emerged as a symbol of Gilan while also achieving national acclaim. Before him, Master Ahmad Ashurpur represented Gilan’s musical landscape, but his extended residence outside Iran limited his continuous engagement in the music scene. In contrast, Masoudi’s consistent presence allowed him to introduce the voice of Gilan to audiences across Iran.

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.

From Past Days…

Gholam Reza Khan Minbashian: a pioneer in Iranian music (I)

Gholam Reza Khan Minbashian, a.k.a Salar-Mo’azez, was a pioneer in several domains in the history of the Iranian music. He is recognized as the first Iranian musician who was educated in classical music. He is also the first Iranian the score of whose works were published in Europe. He is the first Iranian to have launched courses on Western classical music and was also the first Iranian teacher of classical music. Moreover, he is the first founder of a string orchestra in Iran, the first author of the Iranian Radif which was available in oral form. Minbashian is also the first Iranian who studied music in Europe.

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.

Ali Rahbari & Recording Iranian Symphonic Compositions

In the few days prior to the New Iranian year (March 2015), the news of the revival of Tehran Symphony Orchestra under Ali (Alexander) Rahbari’s conductorship was announced. Ali Rahbari, who served as assistant to Herbert von Karajan in Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra at a very young age, was also invited to conduct Tehran Symphony Orchestra in 2005; however, the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government put an end to his collaboration with this Orchestra. Recently, it was announced that Rahbari is invited to conduct an orchestra in the U.S.

Quality Decline in Regional Music Festivals

Regional music festivals are organized to, firstly, introduce the music of different regions and, secondly, to support its performers. Regional music festivals are held in large cities for various reasons, including the availability of financial and executive facilities and the presence of an audience. However, the organization of these festivals has always been one of the challenging issues of ethnomusicology. The reason is that the presence of regional music performers in large cities places them in a context other than the context they would normally perform in their homes; consequently this change in situation leads to changes in the quality of their performance.

Non-profit “Microtona” Project Released

Microtona is a sixty-eight-page Booklet with personal comments by the contributing microtonal artists. The booklet also includes a DVD which consists of 8 original video tracks and 9 original audio tracks. The project is an international one featuring unpublished pieces by composers from Iran, Japan, U.S., France, Austria, Germany and Belgium.

Principles of Violin Playing (I)

The present series of training articles, “Principles of Violin Playing”, seek to help students, to appropriately understand this field, by gradually introducing, categorizing, and teaching the myriad relevant points. One of the principles of playing violin, which must be always kept in mind, is that the selection of the most natural position for the body parts while playing is the best and most appropriate solution. As a matter of fact, any unnatural body part position which requires lots of energy or unusual stretching to maintain, is wrong.

Homayoun Rahimian & Iran’s National Orchestra

The Roudaki Foundation presented the permanent conductor of the National Orchestra (Orchestr Melli), Homayoun Rahimian, in a ceremony, and finally, after four years, the national orchestra found a permanent conductor. Homayoun Rahimian is the fourth permanent conductor of this orchestra after Farhad Fakhreddini, Bardia Kiaras, and Fereidoun Shahbaziyan. He, who has previously had experience of conducting concerts besides being Meister’s concert of this orchestra, performed the concert “Autumns” on the 20th of Tir, performing works by Rouhollah Khaleqi, Javad Ma’roufi, and Hossein Dehlavi.

A brief examination of Ardavan Kamkar’s Santour playing style

I still think of those fish in a crystal bowl for the Haft sin table and those disappointed old men who went out to sell blackfish.

A Note on the Occasion of Houshang Zarif’s Demise

No introduction is needed when talking about the position of the late Houshang Zarif (1938-2020) in the Iranian music. His character and personality are so well-known among musicians that his name per se is a symbol and role model for the Iranian youth. “Becoming Houshang Zarif” is the dream of many young people who enter the world of music in Iran and many of whom retire regretting the realisation of this dream.

Principles of Violin Playing (VIII)

1.5.1.3.sometimes, a player, due to different reasons, may decisively want to play continuously two notes with a half-step by means of the same finger, in such a case, it’s necessary to open the interior curve of the finger like a spring. Naturally coming back, the curve of finger should be closed and the finger should become curved shape again (see paragraph 3.1.2.1).