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Lecture-Concert Series to present Persian Music Ensemble

02/21/2018

JONESBORO – The Lecture-Concert Series at Arkansas State University will present the Persian Traditional Music Ensemble on Monday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 in Fowler Center’s Riceland Hall, 201 Olympic Dr..  This program is free to the public.

According to Dr. Tim Crist, Lecture-Concert Committee chair, this is a "rare, extraordinary event that may be one of the Lecture-Concert Series’ finest moments as several of the world’s finest Persian musicians gather in Riceland Hall for what will be an unforgettable concert."

Despite the intrusion of many cultures on Persia, Persian traditional music has largely avoided outside influence for thousands of years.  It represents Persia’s history, the compelling expressions of a culture, and the collective resolve of a people to cling to a defining truth. 

The music relies on improvisation with the use of colorful modes, and over 200 short melodic movements called "gusheh."

The ensemble consists of Sirvan Manhoubi (oud), Faraz Minoee (santour), Farzin Dehghan (kamanche), Golnaz Khazei (daf) and Alireza Shahmohammadi (voice).

This concert has received campus funding support from the Diversity Program, the Multicultural Center, the College of Liberal Arts and Communication, the Department of Music, the Student Composers Inc. chapter, the Music Outreach Program, and KASU.

The Lecture-Concert Series serves Arkansas State and the surrounding communities by bringing notable guest speakers and performers of diverse backgrounds and wide appeal to the campus, Crist added.

For more details about the series, interested individuals may visit the Lecture-Concert Series website (AState.edu/lectureconcert), or contact Crist, tcrist@AState.edu, (870) 972-2094.

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Persian Music Ensemble
Persian Traditional Music Ensemble