Saturday, February 26, 2005
AMIR VAHAB AND THE SOROOSH ENSEMBLE
Persian traditional and sacred music
"The ambassador for a silenced music... a one-man clearinghouse for
Iranian-Americans who want to learn about their culture." -- New York
Times
Calvary Center for Culture and Community
48th Street and Baltimore Avenue in Philadelphia
Concert starts at 7:30 pm. (doors open at 7:00, cafe and box office at
6:15)
Tickets are priced on a $14-9-19 sliding scale.
Amir Alan Vahab is one of New York’s most celebrated and distinguished
composer / vocalists of Persian sacred and folk music. He sings in the
traditional Persian style and has spent more than three decades
perfecting his skills under the instruction of some of the most
renowned and legendary masters of Persian music.
Born in Tehran, Amir Vahab he began his vocal studies at the age of
four, and soon after began to learn his first instrument, the delicate
and ancient Persian tanbur. By his late teens, he was already an
accomplished musician on such instruments as the setar, tar, ney and
the daf. His dedication to music pushed him further to focus his time
and energy in perfecting the chogur. Since 1981, he has lived in New
York City, where he has played before audiences ranging from select
private shows to crowds of 6,000 people, composed music for theatre
and film, and performed for Iranian-American Television and world-music
radio stations in the United States. His performances have been
recognized worldwide and have inspired many music students to
appreciate the classical delicacy of the unique sounds created by the
instruments that he has mastered. Today, Amir has six albums to his
credit, for many of which he is the composer as well as singer and
player.
In his work, Amir Vahab tries first of all to illustrate the beauty of
Iranian traditional music, which he believes is part of the global
heritage, and needs to be both taught and preserved. Secondly, he has
also attempted to take new approaches to traditional works in order to
attract the young generation of music enthusiasts. He is currently
studying western music and researching ethnomusicology in order to gain
a comparative perspective between Middle Eastern and Western music
traditions, both classic and modern. Amir Vahab believes that the
possibility of cross-fertilization exists, from which both traditions
can benefit.
For sound samples and more information on Amir Vahab and Persian music:
http://www.tanbour.org.
--
Crossroads events fall into three groups. Monthly Philadelphia
Crossroads concerts brings together contrasting but related music from
two different Philadelphia communities. The Root and Branch series
continue the former Cherry Tree Music Co-op's series of concerts by
nationally-known touring artists. Finally, the Folklife Center's Nada
Brahma (Sanskrit for "The World is Sound") events presents
locally-based and national and international touring artists from
culturally-specific traditions around the world. In addition, we
collaborate with other organizations in producing several free
community events at other West Philadelphia locations each year.
All concerts take place at 7:30 pm in the historic Calvary United
Methodist Church at the corner of 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue. The
34 subway-surface trolley stops at the door, and a free, well-lit, and
city-maintained parking lot is located on the block. Dinner and
refreshments are available at the concerts and at excellent restaurants
nearby.
For more information about Crossroads:
http://www.crossroads.calvary-center.org
215-729-1028
Crossroads is in part funded by grants from the Stockton Rush Bartol
Foundation, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and the 5-County Arts Fund.
Some of our publicity costs are paid for by a marketing grant from the
Citizens Bank Foundation to our parent organization, the Calvary Center
for Culture and Community.
----
You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the
list named "Culture." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see
<http://www.purple.com/list.html>.