Faramarz Payvar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Farāmarz Pāyvar
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Farâmarz Pâyvar
February 10, 1933 |
| Died | December 9, 2009 (aged 76) |
| Occupation | Composer, player of Santur |
Farâmarz Pâyvar (born February 10, 1933 – died December 9, 2009) was a famous Iranian composer and a master of the santur. The santur is a traditional Persian instrument, a bit like a hammered dulcimer.
Payvar passed away on December 9, 2009, after a long illness. Thanks to his hard work, the santur became a very important solo instrument in Persian classical music. During his career, Payvar changed how the santur was played. He also led two big music groups and recorded many albums.
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Faramarz Payvar's Musical Journey
Payvar wrote several books about Iranian classical music. These books included helpful guides on how to play the santur. He also wrote a popular guide for the tar, which is a stringed instrument often called the "soul of Iranian music."
Payvar was known for his strong self-discipline. He expected the same dedication from his students and the musicians in his groups. Because of this, his music groups rarely changed members. This was different from many other Persian music groups at the time.
He started his own special way of playing the santur. He used a new technique called "arpeggiated figures." This showed he was open to some "Western" musical ideas. Another new idea he introduced was using felt on the hammers that strike the santur strings. This made the sound softer and less metallic, almost like a piano. Some people thought this was a bit controversial.
Before the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Payvar traveled around the world. He was like a cultural ambassador for Persian music. He performed in North America, Great Britain, Continental Europe, parts of the Soviet Union, and Japan. In the 1960s and 1970s, he recorded many albums for French music labels. Some of his albums are still available today. These include two albums featuring the music of tar player Darvish Khan. He also recorded "Iran: Persian Classical Music" in 1973 during a tour of America.
Early Life and Training
Faramarz Payvar was born in 1933 in Tehran, Iran, into a wealthy family. Both his father and grandfather played the santur and violin. They were connected to the great musicians of their time.
When he was 17, Payvar began studying music formally with the famous teacher Abu'l-Hasan Saba. It took him six years to learn the entire collection of Persian classical music, known as the radif. After mastering it, he performed with his teacher on Iranian National Radio. They were part of a special series of programs. These recordings are now being saved as part of the Golha Project. This project is supported by the British Library and the School of Oriental and African Studies.
After finishing his military service in 1952, Payvar started working for the Iranian Ministry of Finance. He also began teaching at the College for National Music. In 1955, he moved to the Ministry of Education. By 1959, he had created the nine-member National Instrumental Orchestra. This orchestra was part of the Ministry of Arts and Culture.
In 1963, Payvar received a scholarship to study in England for three years. While there, he also gave talks and performed Persian classical music in London and Cambridge.
Forming Ensembles and Facing Challenges
When he returned to Iran in 1966, he formed his second group. This was the five-member Goruhe Asātid, which means "Ensemble of Maestros." Both of his groups started performing on Iranian TV. They also gave concerts at Tehran's new Rudaki Concert Hall.
His groups often performed at the international Shiraz Arts Festival. This festival ran from 1967 to 1977. However, the festival, along with many other cultural activities, stopped because of the upcoming Islamic Revolution. The Ministry of Art and Culture also closed. Payvar's group, which had changed its name to the Payvar Ensemble, also faced challenges.
After the 1979 revolution, music was mostly banned in Iran. This ban lasted through the Iran-Iraq war, which ended in 1988. Even with the ban, Payvar continued to teach music privately. When the ban was lifted in 1989, he performed the first public concert at Rudaki Hall.
In 1998, while visiting his daughter in Paris, Payvar suffered a stroke. This left one side of his body paralyzed and meant he could no longer perform. Even though he was very ill, he continued to guide younger musicians from his home until he passed away.
Faramarz Payvar was married twice. He is remembered by his second wife and his daughter.
Faramarz Payvar's Works
- Concertino for santūr and Orchestra (Pâyvar-Dehlavi) (1958)
- The Radif of Sabâ for Santur in three volumes by F. Pâyvar and Dâryuš Safvat (FerdowsiPublication, Tehran) (1958)
- Dialogue (Goftegu), duet for Santur and violin (1959)
- Preliminary book in Santur playing (Mâhur Publication, Tehran) (1960)
- Thirty Câhârmezrâb for the Santur (Department of Art and Culture Publication, Tehran) (1971)
- The second book of the Radif of Sabā for Santur by F. Pāyvar and Dāryūš Safvat (Ferdowsi Publication, Tehran) (1974)
- Eight musical pieces for the Santur (Department of Art and Culture Publication, Tehran) (1979)
- Parniyân, duet for Santur and Târ (1980)
- Radif Chapkuk for Santur (in women's voice registration) for the santur (1981)
- A collection of pišdarâmad and Rengs (1981)
- A collection of pišdarâmad and Rengs (arranged for the violin) (1982)
- Chamber music for Santur (1982)
- Fânus, duet for two Santurs (1982)
- Theory of Western and Iranian music (1983)
- Renge šahrâšub (1984)
- Elementary Radif for Santur (1988)
- Rahgozar, duet for santur and flute (Otâqe Câp Publication, Tehran) (1989)
- The Vocal Radif and old Tasnifs, according to the version of Abdollah Davami, Collected by F. Pāyvar. (Mâhur Publication, Tehran) (1998)
- Santur Courses, Radif of Maestro Abolhassan Saba, compiled and edited by Farâmarz Pâyvar, rewritten by Pejman Azarmina (1999, ISBN: 964-6409-39-3)
- Fâlguš, seven pieces for Santur (Mâhur Publication, Tehran) (2000) – Computerized Textual Note by: Masoud Gharibzadeh
Faramarz Payvar's Albums
- Improvisation in dašti and afšâri, F. Pâyvar, santur and H. Tehrâni, Tombak.
- Album Yâdegâri (the memorial album) in dastgâhs šur and segâh, F. Pâyvar, santur and M. Esmâ’ili, Tombak.
- Goftegu (dialogue), duets for santur and other instruments composed by F. Pâyvar
- In memorial of Habib Samai, F. Pâyvar, Santur solo in dastgâhs šur and câhârgâh.
- Dašti concert. Pâyvar ensemble and Šajariyân (vocal)
- Dele Šeyda, Pâyvar Ensemble (Masters of Classical Persian Music) and Šâhram Nâzeri (vocals).
- Layli & Majnun, Pâyvar Ensemble (Masters of Classical Persian Music) and Šâhram Nâzeri (vocals).
- Bayâte Kord: F. Pâyvar, santur and H. Tehrani, Tombak in dastgâh Bayâte Kord and solo Tombak in various rhythm improvised by Tehrani.
- Šahrâšub, F. Pâyvar, santur solo in šur, abu atâ and dašti. Mahur.
- Iranian folk music, arranged by F. Pāyvar. Pāyvar Ensemble and Simā Binā (vocal).
- Hekâyate Del, in dastgāh šur. Pâyvar Ensemble with A. Rostamiyân (vocal).
- Mahur and Segâh, Masters Ensemble conducted by F. Pâyvar and Šahidi (vocal).
- Rahâvard, played by Masters, J. Šahnâz, târ, M. Esmâ’ili, Tombak, and F. Pâyvar, Santur.
- Kerešme, in dastgâhs segâh and afšâri, played by Pâyvar Ensemble.
- Iran: Persian Classical Music, from the Nonesuch Explorer Series
See also
In Spanish: Faramarz Payvar para niños
