Evening star., 1924-03-02

position above referred to, although
some skillful musician will sometimes
perform on 1t to the tune OF the sec
ond movement or motif.
8. The "zang" (beIIs), attached to.
the fingers of q dancer, and undoubt-'
edly brought by the Moors to Spain,
and now familiarly known every
where as the Spanish castanet
r y r.
|0NE almost regrets that modern
European instruments are now
being introduced into Persia. lest the
quaint unusualness Of its native mu-
sic and instruments be forgotten for
the newer.
Military bands and orchestras have
for years been organized on a Euro
pean basis, but the study Of Persian
music rests entirely upon tradition,
that Is, oral transmission by teacher
to pupil. Certain classical pieces
called "dastgahs" namely Mahour..
Tschargah, Homayoun. Schgah, Chour.
|Rastpandjgah, have been handed down
from the remote ages in this manner.
Time, to be sure, has made them
suffer notifications and variations,
but the wealth Of folk music is here,
awaiting master to give it its proper
place in the world of harmony.
Listening to the cultured musician
ship of this Mohammedan, who, ak.
though born in Teheran, Persia, wa
educated at the Westminster School,
and the University Of London, read,
for the bar at the Inner Temple
served as attache and secretary az
the Persian legation in London, for
eleven years at important posts in the
foreign Office in his native land, and
later became the minister of public
works. commerce and agriculture, was
a member of the Persian delegation to
the Paris peace conference in 1919.
appointed Persian minister to Spain
in 1920. and transferred to the United
States in 1921, the auditors continued
to be fascinated by his erudition and
extreme interest in things musical.
"Persians delight in singing" he
continued, land a constant use OF
trills is made, in imitation Of the
nightingale so beloved of the poets.
They like to warble their bird-like
notes. In fact, the melodies are so
richly adorned with grace notes and
shakes that European lady once re-
marked upon hearing Persian song,
1t sounds as If the singer were weep
ing.
"Accompaniments do not follow the
European laws of harmony nor do
they conform to the laws of counter
point-nevertheless much of the prim-
itiveness of the Arabian music has
been overcome, which, by the way,
only accompanies in octaves. Songs
which permit of harmoniZation in the
European fashion gain in tone, color
and pitch. although there are some
original Persian melodies which 1t is
not always possible to harmonize.-
Rhythmic accomplishments are some :
times kept, in familiar gatherings, by
the clapping Of hands and the snap
ping OF fingers.
fer and there is divergence Of opin-
ion as to the merit and value of va
rious compositions between Europe
and Asia Persian music undoubtedly
can be improved and developed, s
the country itself is improving and
developing, by the realization or Its
own highest potentialities. Western
influence, as in the practical and ma
terial field, can be beneficially exert,
ed on Persian music as well, but the
destruction of a distinctive type.
would be a loss to the universe
Everything in this world has its own:
generic perfection" g,
fconvr;obtN