The Impression of Nature & Environment on Iranian Music

Subject Areas : environmental management

Hamid Majedi ¹ , Shabnam Shamlou-Kia ^{2 *}

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Received: 2008-08-20 Accepted : 2008-10-11 Published : 2013-01-23

Keywords: Environment, Natural Tones, Traditional music, National Music, Folklore Music,

Abstract :

Music implicates a bond between body and spirit of the human being and the surrounding environment, and also addresses a coordination and harmony established among all different elements of the nature. What the whole world composed of is sound or music. In fact the nature thoroughly is filled with music, and the music can be considered as a prominent instance of expression and manifestation of natural sounds. In this paper, impression of nature and environment on every aspect of Iranian Music has been considered. And, library studies, studying audio sources, and doing field works in different regions of Iran indicate that among different genres of Iranian music, “Traditional music”, “National music” and “Folklore music” all are influenced by nature and environment. The Iranian traditional music has been developed based on “Dastgah-s” (modes and  rhythms systems of  the ancient Iran) and “Radif” (the repertory of  Persian music), that is included a collection of  melodies which they have been collected by different people and added to the repertory at different times and having the most public cultural and natural characteristics of Iran. The Iranian national music, which is consist of Iranian songs, ballads and tunes, has been influenced by environmental factors and these influences, after a thorough research, presented in a table. Each region of Iran, with regard to its geographical status, its unique socio-cultural texture and its special own customs necessitates an exceptional music to itself. Nature and environment have different effects on the behavior and ideology of people in different regions, and definitely on the music. People of each region select their instrument and songs based on their initial environment. Folklore music such as music of  Khorasan, Gilan, Mazandaran, Kordestan, Lorestan, Balouchestan, Azarbaijan, Torkaman Sahra and so on; are  mostly inspired from the nature, and  greatly evidencing the role of relevant nature and surrounding environment on them.