Last voice of Shajarian comes alive
By Alireza Sepahvand
Journalist
The unveiling ceremony of two previously unreleased albums by Master Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, ‘Bang-e Dohol’ and ‘Sar dar Gariban,’ took place on December 20 at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. Part of the ‘Eternal Memory’ project, the albums feature Shajarian’s final live performance during his 2014 European tour.
Homayoun Shajarian, alongside composers Majid Derakhshani and Saeed Farajpouri, shared details of the project. Homayoun noted, “These albums feature works composed by Majid Derakhshani and Saeed Farajpouri, arranged by Majid Derakhshani, and performed with the Shahnaz ensemble.”
The music of these artists provided a foundation for my father’s voice to reach its peak, making each performance a memorable moment.”
He added, “One of the reasons for the delay in releasing these works was the difficulty of separating my father’s voice from the orchestra with low-quality audio. With great effort and the collaboration of friends, we were able to prepare versions suitable for release.”
Homayoun spoke about the significance of the release, “These albums capture a period of my father’s artistic life, when he performed with unparalleled power. Their release is more than an album; it is a tribute to a legacy of love, suffering, and effort.”
Homayoun explained that the reason for not releasing his father’s collaborative albums with Sohrab Pournazeri was personal resentment.
He emphasized, “These decisions were not made out of hostility; Master Shajarian was always committed to quality and professional principles and wanted each work to represent the authenticity and artistic ability of his music.”
He further elaborated, “My father had grievances with the Pournazeri brothers, which is why some collaborative works were not released. Perhaps if he were alive today, these disagreements would have been resolved and the works would have been officially published.”
Street concerts and women’s singing
Shajarian spoke about his dream of holding street concerts, “As long as there are streets and people, this dream remains, but past experiences have shown that all aspects must be carefully considered.”
Regarding the participation of women in music, he said, “Restricting women’s activities is unacceptable, and conditions must be provided for them to present their works. I have published several works so far, and this path continues.”
He also spoke about his meeting with Abdolhossein Khosropanah, Secretary of the Council of Public Culture, saying, “The purpose of the meeting was to review restrictions and provide practical solutions to improve conditions for women’s activities.”
Production process
Saeed Farajpouri explained the album details, “The album includes two CDs, and I composed the section ‘Sar dar Gariban’. In 2014, Master Shajarian requested that these works be performed in Europe. The program was performed in 10 European cities. Afterwards, the program in Iran and Armenia was canceled, making these works the last tour of Master Shajarian.”
Majid Derakhshani, composer of ‘Bang-e Dohol,’ spoke about collaborating with the master, “We tried to include the master’s opinion and vision in the work process. His students assisted in singing, focusing more on composition and instrumental performance. The master invested great effort in the instruments to create new works.”
Homayoun added, “My father’s motivation for creating new instruments was to emphasize the necessity of hearing new sounds so that audiences and interested musicians could experience them.”
Photo, instrument exhibition
Simultaneously with the album unveiling, an exhibition of Master Shajarian’s photographs, taken by Afsaneh Shajarian, and his invented instruments was held at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art.
Homayoun expressed gratitude for the museum’s cooperation, “This exhibition provides an opportunity for the public to become familiar with less-seen aspects of the master’s activities.”
Future plans and Shajarian award
Homayoun spoke about future plans, “We are planning concerts in Iran, but venue capacities are limited. We intend to organize a grand outdoor event next year, accommodating 8,000 to 10,000 people per session.”
Regarding an award in the master’s name, he said, “We are exploring the idea of establishing an award to be given to young singers and artists.”
Significance of works
Homayoun emphasized that these albums include the last live performance of his father and that their release was handled carefully and meticulously to maintain high quality. He added, “My father has many works that are not of sufficient quality, and plans for their release are also underway.”
Saeed Farajpouri and Majid Derakhshani stressed the importance of the Shahnaz ensemble’s collaboration and the quality of performance, considering this project a complete example of the fusion of experience, passion, and skill of the artists.