Iranian Classical Music · Performance · Research
Setar and Tar Performer · Music Educator · Researcher
I am an Iranian classical musician, setar and tar performer, educator, and researcher. Since 1996, my work has developed through performance, teaching, and research on the Iranian radif.
Nearly three decades of performance and more than twenty years of teaching have shaped my understanding of the radif. My current research examines how this knowledge is learned, performed, and passed from teacher to student. My software background helps me organise and document the evidence; musical interpretation remains grounded in the experience of musicians.
Since 1996 · about 30 years
Nearly thirty years of performance in Iranian classical music since 1996, centred on the setar and also including the tar, with a focus on the radif, improvisation, and ensemble practice.
20+ years of teaching
More than twenty years teaching setar, tar, radif, and repertoire, grounded in listening, repetition, and gradual correction between teacher and student.
Proposed · in development
A proposed doctoral project, in development, on how the radif is learned and transmitted beyond written notation, beginning with selected gushehs in Dastgah-e Shur.
Dar Baharan and Ghoroub / Sunset document two different periods of my ensemble work. The information shown here is limited to verified credits and release details.
2021Iranian classical music album
Dar Baharan is an Iranian classical music album jointly directed by Pouyan Khalili and Siavash Karami, performed by Hamnavazan-e Saba, with vocals by Amir Asnaashari.
Digital re-release coming soon via CD Baby
2011Iranian classical setar-ensemble recording
Ghoroub / Sunset is an album by Massoud Shaari, its artist and composer, performed with the Hamsaz Ensemble. I appear on the recording as a setar performer and ensemble musician.
This proposed doctoral project examines how musicians learn, recognise, teach, vary, and improvise within the Iranian radif beyond what notation alone can show. Beginning with selected gushehs in Dastgah-e Shur, it would combine interviews and musical demonstrations, comparative performance analysis, and structured digital documentation. The digital component is intended to organise evidence and keep interpretations traceable, not to judge or generate music independently.
Current researchResearch map — conceptual, not a completed analytical system. Select or hover over a gusheh to trace its relationships. This diagram presents a proposed research structure; it does not recognise, generate, or judge music.
A small selection of performances and ensemble work. The full photo archive is available in Media; video links will be added only when their titles and sources are confirmed.
Archival photograph.
Archival photograph.
Archival photograph.
Nothing plays automatically. Video links will be added only after their titles, dates, and sources are confirmed.
View the full archive“Performance and teaching are the starting points of my research on the radif. Technology supports the organisation and documentation of evidence; musical judgement remains with musicians and specialist researchers.”