Rumi

Jalaleddin Mohammad Balkhi, better known as Rumi or Molana is one of the most famous poets
of Persian literature history. His work has the highest level of artistic creativity with elegant phrasing
in the Persian language; also considered amongst the most creative and mystical in the  
history of Persian literature.

Due to Rumi’s attention to the search for truth, and the deep human messages, his work has always
been food for the Mystic and Sufi movements over the years. Rumi always considered himself as
a seeker of the truth (Haq). His meeting with Shams Tabrizi pushed him further along his path in Mysticism.

There are many books from Rumi:

• Masnavi-e Manavi in 6 volume
• Divan Shams (Ghazaliyat)
• Fiyyeh Mafiyeh  (Tagrirat)
• Majales-e Sabeh (lectures from seven session)
• Robaeyat
• Maktubat (a collection of letters)

It is obvious that his poetry has been a source of inspiration for the Mystical Music of Iran, specifically in
the Kurdish regions.

This program by Atash Tanbur group is a performance of two Kurdish Tanburs in the hand of Dan Rein
and Sina Goudarzi and the poetry of Rumi.

Atash Tanbur Group:

• Dan Rein
  A native of Minnesota, he has studied and performed Persian Traditional music for the past eleven years. His main instrument is the Setar, a four string long neck lute native to Iran.  He also plays Kurdish Tanbur(Iran), Torbat-e Jam Dutar(Iran), Azeri Chogur(Iran), and Saz(Turkey and Iraq). All members of the long neck lute family.
  
  On Setar he performs music that is based upon the Iranian traditional repertoire called the Radif, which is divided into twelve modes (Dastgah). He has studied with masters in the United States, Canada, and Iran.
  
  In 1993 Dan received the Minnesota State Arts Board Apprenticeship grant to study Radif with Ali Zarrin. Three years later, in 1996, he received a Jerome Foundation Travel Study Grant to study music in Iran.  He has created numerous radio programs for KFAI radio on various aspects of Iranian music in his weekly radio show, “ Century Song”.
  
• Sina Goudarzi
  A native of Iran, Sina's main art form is Persian calligraphy.  He has practiced Persian Traditional music for the past two decades of his life.  He learned to play Setar under the supervision of the grand master of this instrument, Jalal Zolfunoon for four years, and then continued his studies in the Radif and Dastgah system of Iranian music.
  
  Later on, Sina discovered his strong attraction to the Kurdish Tanbur and the Mystical Music of Central Asia. Since then, he plays Kurdish Tanbur and has been greatly influenced by the Tanbur style of the late Khalil Ali-nejad.

 

" Persian Calligraphy Movements"

by: Sina Goudarzi

Monday June 23rd, 7.00 pm


This Presentation will discuss the most significant movements of Persian calligraphy through the history. The main focus of this presentation will be on the modern works and activities of Persian calligraphy.

These movements are:

1. Nastaliq

• Early Ages    
• Mir Emad
• Post Mir Emad

2. Shekastee

• Darvish    
• Post Darvish

3. Modernism

• Modern Calligraphy    
• Applied Calligraphy
• Graphic Design

(This presentation will be aided by slide show from the beginning through the end.)

We welcome a visit from Sina, generously sponsored by Art in Iran (www.artiniran.com). Sina will give a talk about Persian calligraphy, followed by a demonstration of his work. Upon our request, he has let us know that he will also bring some of his work for sale!

We are privileged to have well-known musician, teacher and conductor Nader Madj, and friends join us for an afternoon of Persian Classical Music dating from the 5th Century BC.