Iranian music

From ancient times till date, Iranians have continued to place emphasis on poetry and other forms of music. Monophonic in nature, it usually consists of a soloist or a duet with an accompaniment. Iranian classical music has a whole set of melodies known as the Radif, seven larger connotations known as the Dastagh and five smaller sub-sets known as avaz or maqam. The term "Khonyâ-ye Bâstâni Irâni" is better known today as Iranian Classical Music. However performances are more often improvisations to other various melodic theoretical precedents. These melodies are known as gushe-s which is grouped together in a form. Performance is based on the idea of a suite or a collection of classical poetry, certain instruments and various musical compositions.
With poetry available from ancient times till the present day, one has a large choice to choose from. However sometimes based on the performance the gushe-s may have a slower rhythm or an improvised one. These have been passed down from one generation to another, from ancient Persia to present day Iran. The vocalist also has to set the tempo and the mood for the Dastagh. After the Sassanid era, where Iranian music was made to grow and develop, with the advent of Islam many modes and melodies disappeared due to the biases which Islam had against music.
Iranian classical music consists of various modes which have to be by-hearted and memorized thoroughly. More spiritual than recreational, this was largely because of the growing Sufi influence along with holy lyrics from religious texts. Some of the Sufi poets who wrote were Hafez and Jalal-e Din Rumi.
Instruments used in general included the setar which were widely used by Sufi mystics. The santur similar to the Indian santur, the ney, the kamancheh and the violin and oud were popular. These instruments are much brighter and louder while the vocalists have a deep rich voice. Popular vocalists alive today are Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Shahram Nazeri, Shajarian, Afsaneh Rasaei, Hamed Nikpay, Ali Jahandar and Mahsa, while some bands would include Hamavayan Ensemble, Aref ensemble, Masters of Persian Music, Shakila's group: winner of Persian Academy Awards International, Chakavak Ensemble, Bijan Vakili and Mehrbanou Goudarzi group, Radif ensemble and many more.
Many Iranians today also play to an international audience such as Lily Afshar, a world class classical performer, Loris Tjeknavorian, principal conductor to the Rudaki Opera House Orchestra, Zubin Mehta though he is of Iranian decent he is a world-famous classical conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
Iran has also been introduced the latest genres like pop, rock, alternative, etc. The Iranian Revolution was a dark time for Iranian pop music with many artists leaving and moving to the United States of America. These would include Vigen Derderian, Dariush Eghbali, Siavash Ghomeyshi, Hayedeh, Homeirah. Iranian rock is performed underground and has various Western influences like the Doors, Dire Straights and others. Iranians new generation have also been exposed to hip hop, rap and electronic music. Iranian folk music is another genre which has merged with Western music and connotations to come out with different sounds and styles. Folk instruments largely different from classical ones, have a uniqueness which can be seen in the diversity of the different ethnic groups which exist in Iran.