A look at the music of southern Iran with Yousef Kohzad, a professional singer and musician

At the same time, Iran is culturally and ethnically diverse and diverse. One of the things that shows these cultural differences well is folk music or areas that have their roots in the distant past. From north to south and from east to west to every city we enter, the sound of the life of the people of that region can be heard from the sound of their instruments. In fact, the music of each region has its own characteristics in terms of tone and expression. In this article, we have studied the unique features of music in southern Iran.

Characteristics of southern Iranian music

Southern Iran is one of the regions that has a lot to say in the field of regional music, especially in the provinces of Khuzestan, Hormozgan and Bushehr. The music of southern Iran is one of the richest and at the same time the most complex music in the regions of Iran. We all know that the music of southern Iran is happy and taken from the warm nature of this region; But contrary to the beliefs of many audiences, this music is not very simple and has a variety of positions and customs.

It should be noted that this fervor can also be seen in the mourning of the south, which uses Sanch and Dammam to produce sad music, and the result is different from most music that narrates sorrow and pain and has a calm rhythm. In fact, one of the features that distinguishes southern folk music is its efficiency in religious ceremonies, which itself has distinctive songs and methods. Of course, southern rhythmic music is better known than its mourning music.

Bandari: It is the most famous way of performing music in the south, which is very similar to African music and is influenced by the music of African immigrants to the south of Iran. The music is cheerful and rhythmic. This music is played with the percussion instruments of tomba, tempo and anban reed, which is a wind instrument and is played in happy ceremonies and weddings.

Sabalo: One of the common forms in the local music of Hormozgan and Bushehr provinces is Sabalo. It is a song that accompanies the circle and is performed by singers sitting in a circle. The singers move their shoulders to the right and left as they perform the sebalo. Sabalo’s dance and music are also influenced by African music.

Yazleh: Another popular form of Yazleh is performed by a group of non-professional singers and is accompanied only by touching. In this music, the melody is the most important and the text is not given much importance. This form of southern Iranian music is one of the forms used in mourning ceremonies and is accompanied by breastfeeding.

Liva: This music, which is common in Hormozgan, is played for joy and is accompanied by dance. It is a kind of port music performance that has been influenced by Arabic and African music, especially the beaches of Zanzibar, and has come to this land. This type of music also uses large and small drums, such as Pipa, Joffa, Punka and Tovairi. This music is mostly performed in celebrations and is performed with individual and group dances with special rhythms.

Musician: The ritual ceremony is one of the most mysterious and at the same time the most complex music in Iran. In this ceremony, various instruments are used, one of which is called Tabireh or Tanbur. This instrument can only be played by “Baba Zar” or someone else who allows it; Is played. The percussion of this instrument is made of the horn of a cow or a sheep that has been sacrificed for the performance of a ritual. Zar is basically a healing ritual that people believe causes the demon to come out of the demon possessed body. In this ceremony, which is also called “Sar” in Somalia, a person named Babazar or Mamazar is in charge of the ceremony. In the music field, the tambourine instrument, the percussion instruments of Dahl, Dammam and Deira are used, as well as singing.

Music of southern Iran – music field – removing the jinn from the body of the demon possessed with music

 Azwa Dance: In the days of Eid-ul-Adha, Eid-ul-Fitr and especially in weddings, a number of captains, spies and Qeshmi fishermen with large instruments and drums to the streets and squares of the city They come and dance and beat their feet as a sign of joy and happiness while playing the drums.

Nimeh Khani: It is the music of sailors. This music is played while working at sea. In the middle of a solo with a group of choirs, they sing songs that praise the sea.

Chavoshi: Chavoshi is called when escorting or when welcoming pilgrims. Chavoshi is also recited on the third night of Muharram, the night of Ashura or Arbaeen, among the lamentations (units) and during construction works, and so on. In general, Chavoshi song is sung when there is a need to strengthen the collective spirit. Chavoshi is sometimes sung as an exchange of songs between two or more people. Chavoshi singers should have a loud voice.

Shroveh: It is a kind of sad Dashtestani couplet singing and singing that is performed in the local language.

Shahnameh reading: It is sung with special songs in night parties.