Sassanid music

Ancient Iranians attached great importance to music and poetry, as they still do today. 7th century plate depicts Sassanid era musicians. The British Museum.

Sassanid music refers to the golden age of Persian music that occurred under the reign of the Sassanid dynasty.

Persian classical music dates to the sixth century BC; during the time of the Achaemenid Empire (550-331 B.C.), music played an important role in prayer and in royal and national events. But Persian music had its zenith during the Sassanid dynasty from 224 until 651 AD. In this era, many of Persian music's dastgahs and modes were invented, most of them by Barbod. He employed 30 sounds for music. Naturally he recorded his inspirations and performed them for his audience, since if he did not, he could not play them again.

Dance and chanson were prevalent in court banquets. It said that on several occasions Persian musicians and dancers were gifted to the court of Chinese emperors by Sassanid kings, implying the high reputation and virtuosity of Persian musicians and dancers in that era. Another important role that music played was in the reception of foreign diplomats and kings from neighbouring countries, such as Byzantine or Hephthalites.

Five centuries after Barbod's death, Farabi made a record of all the musical pieces of his period and described the ancient note recording method. About 2,000 musical works and melodies and relics of that period have been passed on to us, including pieces from Barbod, Armove and Maraghi so that this music can be performed and played at present.

Instruments

Taq-e Bostan carving, Women playing harp while the king is hunting.

The musical instruments which appear distinctly on the Sassanid sculptures are the harp, the horn, the Daf, the drum and the flute or pipe. The harp is triangular, and has seven strings; it is held in the lap, and played apparently by both hands. The drum is of small size. The horns and pipes are too rudely represented for their exact character to be apparent. Concerted pieces seem to have been sometimes played by harpers only, of whom as many as ten or twelve joined in the execution. Mixed bands were more numerous. In one instance the number of performers amounts to twenty−six, of whom seven play the harp, an equal number the flute or pipe, three the horn, one the drum, while eight are too slightly rendered for their instruments to be recognized. A portion of the musicians occupy an elevated orchestra, to which there is access by a flight of steps.

Famous Sassanid musicians

Female musicians accompanying king during hunting, Taq-e Bostan.

• Barbad : Barbad, or Barbad the Great, was the court musician of the Sassanid Empire. He created the first ever musical system in the Middle East, known as the Royal Khosravani, dedicated to King Khosrau (Chosroes).

• Nakisa : He was also the court musician of the Sassanid Empire. The main theme of his songs were in praise of King Khosrau II.

• Bamshad : He was another court musician of Khosrau II. He used to play early morning (dawn) songs which could please the king and people and bring happiness to the society.

• Sarkash : Though not as renowned as Barbod or Nakisa, he was a remarkable musician.

See also

• Sassanid art
• Music of Iran
• Sassanid Empire
• Persian traditional music

Further reading

• Dr. Abd al-Husayn Zarrin’kub "Ruzgaran : tarikh-i Iran az aghz ta saqut saltnat Pahlvi" Sukhan, 1999. ISBN 964-6961-11-8

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