This course, led by Yasamin Shahhosseini, will give participants an opportunity to work in a focused way on a genre unique to Iranian classical music. Literally, ‘chaharmezrab’ means ‘four plectrum strikes’, and it originally referred to fast, short pieces with a particular ‘payeh’, or rhythmic pattern. But the genre has become much more elaborate, and varies widely. Yasamin Shahhosseini will guide the class through historical and contemporary examples, working on its particular rhythmic qualities, and helping students understand the key elements that they can use in their studies. Students will learn to create and play their own chaharmezrab.
The course is open to all instrumentalists. The main focus of the course is not modal work, but players should expect to have to inflect the tuning of their instruments beyond equal temperament at times.
Timing: 3 x 2-hour workshops, 9, 11 and 13 November 2020, 17.00-19.00 GMT.