Lahlezar - Javid Afsari Rad
I established Rumi Ensemble in 2007 and we released our first record In the Footprints of Rumi in 2011. This was a collaboration with the Persian vocalist Salar Aghili and the music focussed on lyrics by the Persian poet Rumi. Lahlezar is our second record and we still have some tunes with vocal and lyrics here, but the main focus now is on instrumental music and therefore the name of the ensemble changed to Javid Afsari Rad Ensemble.
I have drawn inspiration from different kinds of music, for example suites from the Baroque, where all the movements have different characters and rhythms.
On this record we are mixing traditional Persian music with Indian music, and Arabic music with Baroque music.
The tunes Choopi, Baran and Baroque Fantasi are good examples of my fascination with baroque music and my attempt to make music reminiscent of eighteenth century baroque dance music in particular. The tune Kurdi is inspired by the rhythms of Kurdistan, while the title track Lahlezar, "The Garden of Tulips” is the name of a street in Tehran/Iran known for its night life, Theatres, Cinemas, Resturants, Bars and Cabarets from the 1930s until 1979. Lalehzar reflects a kind of Arabic-inspired music that was played in this street in the 1970s and a nostalgia for a happier and optimistic time in Iran. Lambda Yatatana is an old Lebanese tune, one of those songs you never forget and here it is combined with lyrics from the great Persian poet Hafez.
- Javid Afsari Rad