Mystery and Hope #HopeSongs #PersianInstruments - Music Release by Stan Stewart

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Stan Stewart - @muz4now

The post Mystery and Hope #HopeSongs #PersianInstruments appeared first on Stan Stewart - @muz4now.

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

from the album Mystery and Hope

The post Mystery and Hope #HopeSongs #PersianInstruments appeared first on Stan Stewart - @muz4now.

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

Created by Stan Stewart on Stan Stewart - @muz4now - Stan Stewart - the muse is present The post Mystery and Hope #HopeSongs #PersianInstruments appeared first on Stan Stewart - @muz4now.

### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * * * * **BandCamp** **Mirlo** **Bandwagon** **YouTube** **Apple Music** **Tidal** **Pandora** **Spotify** (if you must) **YouTube Music** **Jam.Coop** * Bluesky * Mastodon * Facebook * X * More social networks * BandCamp * YouTube # Stan Stewart – @muz4now ### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * One definition of foreign is “strange and unfamiliar”. As with anything else, it’s only so until we explore what we think is unfamiliar. ## How Shall We Sing? Because of recent events, I became curious (again) about the culture — especially music — of Persia. This was the ancient name of the country we now call Iran. As I explored, I quickly was drawn to the stringed instruments of this “foreign” time and place. I’ve already written briefly about the (se)tar and santoor. On the suite “Mystery and Hope”, I also used oud, saz, kemenche, and shah kaman. The first two are plucked (using either a plectrum or fingertips) and the last two are bowed. The often mellow sound of the oud is a somewhat familiar guitar-like instrument from several Middle East countries. The saz has a slightly less mellowness to the sound, but is equally widespread in its many variations from Greece to Turkey. It provides an intriguing contrast to the other plucked string instruments mentioned here. In the song “5 PopPers”, you hear these bowed and plucked stringed instruments interweaving their sounds. Especially note the exposed parts about 25 seconds into the track. ## Foreign Is A State of Mind At first listen, some of these instruments do sound very foreign to those of us from other regions. But their timbre is deeply intriguing and a beautiful contrast to what we hear in “western” music. As many regular readers know, I am attracted to the sound of the duduk. When I started to write these pieces of music, I imagined using this sound. However, that would have been introducing a woodwind that is historically foreign to Persia. (The balaban is similar, but I had no source for the sounds of that instrument.) A most notable woodwind in Persia is the ney. This has a more typical flute or pipe-like sound than the duduk. I have heard a few ney performers. In a concert hall, it has a very entrancing sound. You can hear this instrument especially in “7 Mid-Simplicity”. ## Sing a Foreign Song At the beginning of this musical suite (“3 Market Mayhem”), you hear drums including several traditional Persian percussion instruments. These include tombak (lap-held hand drum) and daf (frame drum with jingles). I added bells — both handheld and suspended — to most of the five tracks in this suite as well. There’s no need for us to hold these sounds as foreign. Like so many things in our world, if we will just listen, everything — especially our own attitude — will change. * * * Main post photo by MoFaEye. ### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading… ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

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### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * * * * **BandCamp** **Mirlo** **Bandwagon** **YouTube** **Apple Music** **Tidal** **Deezer** **Spotify** (choose another platform if you can) **Pandora** **YouTube Music** **Jam.Coop** * Bluesky * Mastodon * Facebook * X * More social networks * BandCamp * YouTube # Stan Stewart – @muz4now ### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading… ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

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### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * * * * **BandCamp** **Mirlo** **Bandwagon** **YouTube** **Apple Music** **Tidal** **Pandora** **Spotify** (if you must) **YouTube Music** **Jam.Coop** * Bluesky * Mastodon * Facebook * X * More social networks * BandCamp * YouTube # Stan Stewart – @muz4now ### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * * * * **BandCamp** **Mirlo** **Bandwagon** **YouTube** **Apple Music** **Tidal** **Spotify** (choose another platform if you can) **Pandora** **YouTube Music** **Jam.Coop** * Bluesky * Mastodon * Facebook * X * More social networks * BandCamp * YouTube # Stan Stewart – @muz4now ### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * * * * **BandCamp** **Mirlo** **Bandwagon** **YouTube** **Apple Music** **Tidal** **Spotify** (choose another platform if you can) **Pandora** **YouTube Music** **Jam.Coop** * Bluesky * Mastodon * Facebook * X * More social networks * BandCamp * YouTube # Stan Stewart – @muz4now ### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * One nation attacks another. What do we actually know about each other? ## In War, Truth Is The First Casualty Oh, sure: we have stereotypes of each other. But how much understanding do we actually have of another culture? What do I really know about Persia? The rhetoric from the saber rattlers won’t tell me anything. I can guarantee you that. Music is part of culture, so I thought I’d start there. ## Persian Culture I have listened to lots of Persian music over the years. It has often intrigued me. Plus, I spent a few years learning frame drums and those are a part of the music of the Middle East, including Iran. I’ve also been curious about many of the wind instruments of this region. What I was drawn to this time is the varied stringed instruments of Persia. In particular, I’m using the sounds of the santoor and setar in an upcoming musical suite. So, I’m going to share with you a little of what I’ve learned about these two quite different instruments. ## Setar How fun that the “…tar” ending refers to an instrument held similarly to the guiTAR. In fact, there is another Persian instrument called the tar which means “string”. Of course, the sound of the tar and setar is quite different from the guitar. The tar usually has 6 strings while the setar has three or four. On a 4-string setar, two are steel and two are brass. This combination can produce many sounds that are quite soothing. ## Persian Santoor Sometimes spelled santur, the santoor is a dulcimer played with wooden (or synthetic) hammers. As with so many of the dulcimers played worldwide, this one has an entrancing sound. The lightweight hammers bring out the sound of the strings, but not in a heavy way. The hammers or mallets are traditionally made of wood that’s carved into a curved end that is used to tap the strings of the santoor. I find the sound of this instrument to be very soothing. Listen for these instruments in an upcoming suite. ### Please share! * Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe