Monday, August 24, 2009

Hafez Nazeri creates new instrument and to debut it in U.S.


Known for his innovative blend of Persian and Western musical styles, 30-year- old Iranian musician Hafez Nazeri has created a new instrument: the "Hafez." Named in honor of his own namesake – the great 13th century mystic poet – the “Hafez” extends the range of the setar by incorporating two additional low strings, crafting greater melodic and harmonic range. The “Hafez” allows Nazeri to express his musical philosophy, preserving the essence and elemental structures of Persian music, while embracing new ideas developed out of Western Classical music such as orchestration, harmony, rhythmic patterns and melodic forms.

The “Hafez” will make its U.S. debut during the ‘Rumi Symphony Project: Cycle One' in LA October 3rd at the Pantages Theatre and in NYC November 14th at Carnegie Hall. Alongside the new instrument, the concerts will showcase Nazeri on setar and vocals, and his legendary father Shahram Nazeri (vocals), as well as artists of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Paul Neubauer on the viola, Ida Kavafian, viola and Fred Sherry, cello; in addition to Matt Haimovitz, cello; Tim Cobb, double bass, Hussein Zahawy, percussion and Shane Shanahan, percussion.

http://www.myspace.com/hafeznazeri

No comments: