TEHRAN – “Tell Nothing” and “From Deceitful Age”, two albums of Iranian traditional music, have shared the award for best album at the 17th House of Music Celebration.

“Tell Nothing” (“Hich Magu”) composed by Ehsan Zabihifar contains songs by young vocalist Mojtaba Asgari. The album was recorded at Mahur, a major label in Tehran.

“From Deceitful Age” produced by the Sepid-o-Siah Ensemble features Vahid Taj on vocals. The album has been composed by Kurosh Danai, Surena Safai and Maryam Rezanejadian. 

The celebration attended by a large number of elite Iranian musicians began with performances by Iranian folk groups and the Iranian Artists Forum Orchestra at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on Saturday night.

As the keynote speaker, House of Music Managing Director Hamidreza Nurbakhsh made critical remarks about unemployment among young musicians and the local legal prohibition on public performances by female musicians.

He also lament about the chain of cancellations of concerts under pressure from certain people and asked Iranian officials to find solutions for these obstacles. 

Six veteran musicians and experts were honored with awards for their lifetime achievements.

Composer and santur virtuoso Milad Kiai, instrument maker Farman Moradi and music scholar Seyyed Abbas Sajjadi, who was the anchor of Dastan, a popular TV program on music, were among the honorees.

In addition, flutist Azin Movahhed, violinist Siavash Zahireddini and composer Loris Tjeknavorian received lifetime achievement awards.

The award for best writer was shared by Sasan Fatemi for “Musical Celebrations in Tehran’s Urban Cultures” and Sina Sadeqi for “A Stained Glass Window”.

Hossein Yasini received the award for best translator for his work on “The Improvisation of Musical Dialogue: A Phenomenology of Music” by Bruce Ellis Benson of Wheaton College in Illinois.

Photo: A combo photo shows vocalists Vahid Taj (L) and Mojtaba Asgari accepting awards during the 17th House of Music Celebration at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on October 1, 2016. (IRNA/Mehr/Marzieh Soleimani/Mehran Riazi) 

MMS/YAW