Iran’s Pouya Saraei, Azerbaijani Alim Qasimov team up in cross-cultural music project
Iranian composer and Santur (hammered dulcimer) virtuoso Pouya Saraei announced the release of his latest musical project, a collaboration with celebrated Azerbaijani vocalist Alim Qasimov.
The piece, titled ‘Mastam,’ showcases a fusion of Persian classical music and Azerbaijani mugham traditions, Mehr News Agency reported.
Saraei, a professor at Tehran University of Art and a prominent figure in Iranian music, composed and arranged the piece, also performing on the Santur.
Qasimov, known for his emotive vocal improvisations and recipient of the International Music Council-UNESCO Music Prize in 1999, lends his voice to the project.
‘Mastam’ features contributions from a diverse group of musicians from Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Europe.
Saraei's recent endeavors include a collaboration with British-Iranian singer Sami Yusuf, performing mystical compositions with an ensemble of international musicians.
He also participated as a solo performance in a three-night performance of Howard Shore's ‘The Lord of the Rings’ score in Istanbul.
‘Mastam’ is now available on major streaming platforms, offering listeners a rich tapestry of cross-cultural musical expression.