Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur, 2000

Kayhan Kalhor
Iran

Instrumentation:
solo cello, kamancheh (bowed lute), santur (hammer dulcimer), ney (flute), violins (2), violas (2), cello, bass, tabla (percussion)

Neyshabur, one of the oldest cities on the Silk Road, was a major cultural crossroads that boasted one of the ancient world’s first universities. It produced many of Iran’s greatest poets, including Omar Khayyam and At’ar, and was also known for its turquoise. In Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur, Kayhan Kalhor combines Western strings and Indian tabla [TAH blah] (set of drums used in North Indian classical music) with his core ensemble of kamancheh [ke MAHN cheh] (spike fiddle), santur [SAN toor] (hammer dulcimer), and ney [nay] (end-blown bamboo flute). The piece is an arabesque-like elaboration of an Iranian melodic formula called chahargah. According to Kalhor, chahargah means literally "fourth time," and its mood reflects the quiet and introspective atmosphere of the fourth part of the old Iranian daily cycle, from late night until just before dawn. Explains Kalhor, "In this composition, I wanted to highlight the distinct qualities of Persian classical music. At the height of the Persian Empire, the music, poetry and literature of Persia spread to India, Central Asia, Turkey, the Mediterranean and North Africa. Persian music can still be heard today in the music of Andalusia and the Spanish flamenco."