Jamshid Fazel-Hamedani (Lake Oswego) is an Iranian (Persian) santur player. The santur, an Iranian/Persian dulcimer, is trapezoidal in shape. The player uses two mezrabs, delicate mallets, to strike the strings of the santur. Fazel-Hamedani most enjoys playing at home for holidays with family and friends.
Bio
Jamshid Fazel-Hamedani comes from a musical family in Iran. At a young age, he learned to play the tonbak (goblet drum) and later picked up the santur. Fazel-Hamedani says that the prevalence of religion in Iran meant that families often dissuaded their children from pursuing music as a profession, but it never prevented his family from playing at home. He fondly remembers the biannual musical gatherings that his father would organize, inviting famous musicians to celebrate and play together in the family’s home. Though his parents did not allow him to attend the gatherings himself, Fazel-Hamedani always listened from outside the room. He also fondly recalls playing for the shah and queen while he was the orchestra organizer at college. Now retired, Fazel-Hamedani plays santur for his own enjoyment and with family and friends for holidays like Nowruz (Persian New Year). Using mezrabs, delicate hammers, Fazel-Hamedani strikes the santur’s 72 strings to play the classical and folk music of his Persian heritage. Twelve dastgahs (modes) make up the Radif (repertoire) for classical Persian music. Fazel-Hamedani’s favorite mode is Esfahan, often associated with happiness and liveliness. There are a total of twelve modes in Persian classical music, associated with themes such as happiness, sadness, mornings, nights, and weddings. Fazel-Hanedani plays usually without sheet music, drawing on his memory and current emotional state to inform his music. As a result, each of his performances is tinged with the uniqueness of the time and space he is playing in.
