Middle Eastern Spirituality

and Peace

Davod Azad in Concert: Songs for the Beloved

8 March

Venue: Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, Edinburgh
Time: 7pm: Doors Open. 7.30pm-9.30pm

Cost: £10/£8 (Concessions), on the door on the night.
Contact: Neill Walker, mesp2008@hotmail.co.uk, 0131 331 4469.

Davod is going to sing different poems from different Sufi poets. He is going to play Taar, Setar, Tanbour and Daf.

Davod Azad was born in 1963, and raised in Azarbajan (Iran). He started initially to explore the wonderful world of Iranian classical music on his own. After his first encounters, he advanced to study music under the guidance and supervision of Persian masters on vocals and multiple instruments including Taar, Setar, Tanbour, Rabab, and Daf. His work is based on long and intensive studies of the past masters of Iranian classical music. He has many publications such as the studies of the school of Tabriz Tar and the Hormozey style of Setar. He is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Mastering in the Iranian Classical music, the Azeri folk music, the Ancient Persian music, and the Persian Sufi music, specifically influenced by the music of the Ghajar period in Persian history, a pure classical Persian Music form which to this date has remained undiluted by Western or other styles of Music.

The Classical Persian Music which Davod Azad plays is based on the ancient Modal system of Persian Classical Music. The Persian Classical Music is one of the oldest and purest forms of music in the world today. Its unique style is based on 12 Modes or Dastgaahs. The nearest Music forms to Persian Dastgaah is that of the Indian Ragas. In his latest work, 'The Divan of Rumi and Bach,' he joins Iranian Traditional music with Bach's famous melodies. The free and flowing form of Iranian improvisation is fused with the discipline and structure of the Western classical style, overcoming the initial apparent inconsistencies, to yield a deep and profound unity between the forms - an indication that these vastly different traditions have evolved from a single source and essence. Davod has played in well over 100 concerts in Europe, Asia and in 2004 in Australia. He has performed live for BBC, and German and the Austrian Radios. For further information regarding his past work and his upcoming concerts please see his web site at: www.davodazad.com