Radif; of Persian Music

Posted in 2009 in the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

The Radif of Iranian music is the traditional repertoire of Iranian classical music which constitutes the essence of Persian musical culture. More than 250 melodic units, called gushe, are arranged in cycles, with an underlying modal layer providing the backdrop against which a variety of melodic motifs are set. Although the main practice of traditional Iranian music is through improvisation according to the mood of the performer and in response to the audience, musicians spend years learning to master the radif and its nuances in various musical instruments for their performances and compositions. The radif can be either vocal or instrumental, performed on a variety of instruments with different playing techniques including the long-necked lutes tār and setār, as well as li santur (belonging to the Zither family on wood. using two sticks), the kamānche spiked violin and the ney (it is a flute of the "simple mouth" type, made from a hollowed-out reed, open at both ends.) Passed from teacher to student through oral instruction, the radif embodies both the aesthetic practice and the philosophy of Persian musical culture. Learning the radical spans at least a decade of personal devotion during which students memorize the radical's repertoire and engage in a process of musical asceticism intended to open the doors of spirituality. This rich treasure lies at the heart of Iranian music and reflects the cultural and national identity of the Iranian people.