The
term "Khonyâ-ye Bâstâni Irâni" (خنيای باستانی ایرانی) is the
Iranian transliteration of what would translate into "ancient
Iranian music," that is to say, Iranian classical music. This
Iranian term is well-understood today,[citation
needed] but is rarely used when compared to
the more frequently used term, "Mousiqi-e aseel," (which has a
similar translation). Through excavated evidence, such as
statuettes recovered in
Susa,
it can be said that music in Iran can be traced back to the days
of the
Elamite Empire (2,500-644 B.C). Little is known of the music
during this period, except for the fact that various
instruments, such as guitars, lutes and flutes were created and
played. The
barbat and other instruments are said to have originated in
this period, probably around 800 B.C..
During
the
Achaemenid Empire, it was stated[citation
needed] by Herodotus that music played an
important role, especially in court. He mentions that music was
crucial to religious ceremonies in worshipping the god
Mithra - later to be accepted a
Amesha Spenta - as well as several other idols, after
Zoroastrianism became popular.
Instruments used in
Persian classical music include the bowed
spike-fiddle
kamancheh, the goblet drum
tombak, the end-blown flute
ney, the frame drum
daf, the long-necked lutes
tar,
setar,
tanbur,
dotar, and the dulcimer
santur. The ordinary
violin is also used, with distinctively
Persian tuning. Harps, "chang[s]," were a very
important part of music up until the middle of
the Safavid Empire. They were probably replaced
because of tuning problems or replaced by the
qanun (zither)and later the piano which was
introduced by the West during the Safavid
Dynasty of Iran. Many, if not most, of these
instruments originated in Iran. Perhaps the most
loved string instrument is the
tar. Tar players are regurlarly chosen to
function as the primary string instrument in a
performance. The
setar is also loved for its delicacy and is
the favorite among Mystic musicians. Some
instruments like the sorna, neyanban, dohol,
naghareh, and others, are not used in the
classical repertoire but are used in Iranian
Folk music. The ghazhak (ghaychak), a type of
fiddle, is being re-introduced to the Classical
field after many years of exclusion. The
instruments used in the Classical field are also
used in Iranian Folk Music.
