This solo piece performed by Morteza Mahjoobi (1900-1965) is from one of the Golha radio programs titled "Caravan", in memory of Reza Mahjoobi, Morteza's older brother, a prominent violinist and composer.
This is a very good representation of what Mahjoobi accomplished on the piano. He tuned the piano very accurately. It is said that he would carry a tuning hammer with him in case he needed to change the tuning or fine tune a piano before or during a recording session or performance.
Mahjoobi played the piano as if the instrument was made for the traditional Iranian music.
Mahjoobi's unique style incorporated, among other things 1) very accurate tuning adhering to the scales of the radif music, 2) mixing sounds cleverly to effectively 'bend' the notes, 3) a fast right hand capable of playing the ornamentation of tar and voice radif - which are taught through the oral tradition and 4) very precise and solid sense of rhythm, 5) delicate use of the pedals, 6) special attention to dynamics, 7) balanced use of the percussive and singing traits specific to piano.
Mahjoobi studied the radif with H. Esmailzadeh (Kamancheh master) on the violin, piano techniques beginning with his mother, then with Hossein Hangafarin (a.k.a 'Hussein Re") and Mofakham, and rhythm with Haji Khan Einodolei (tombak master).
Morteza was familiar with setar and violin and suggested to his pupils that if they wish to learn the technique of radif music on the piano they should first familiarize themselves with the radif music on another instrument such as the violin, kamancheh, setar, ney or tar.
Mahjubi had a strong command of the radif system evident from his compositional and improvisational works. His solo works such as this piece in dashti (which resembles the structure of his songs), is a testimony to his ability to express the intricacies and aesthetics of the radif on the piano (an instrument with fixed pitches) which is otherwise heard on the traditional instruments e.g. Kamancheh, Ney, setar, or tar.
Special thanks to Alireza Miralinaghi for providing the photos.
More on Golha Programs at www.golha.co.uk
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