About persian music with Reza Derakshani 

Reza’s joy in playing Persian Classical music has to do with its improvisational nature. “Its never the same. It leaves the doors open,” he says, “Every time I play, I am surprised and wonder about what comes out of me.” He also loves the melody and emotional power in the music. “Its not about logic,” says Reza. Reza’s study of Persian music has always been intertwined with Persian poetry. “The only way to learn the musical pieces is through the poetry – to memorize the melody you have to know Rumi and Hafiz. Once you enter that world there is no distance. The poetry becomes part of your life.”

As a student, Reza recalls talking on the phone with his friends late into the night and speaking only poetry, just bouncing back lines to one another. “We would go on for hours. There is no end to the poetry,” he says, “Every time you open the book – there’s a new piece!” While Rumi is one of the most well known Persian poets outside of Iran, Reza emphasizes that there are many other powerful mystical poets. “Hafiz is like God in Iran” he says, “And there’s also Attar and others. They are not only poets, but philosophers. They become like your masters – they create a frame for your mind.”

Recently, Reza has been drawn to the work of Omar Khayyam, a poet, philosopher, and mathematician, dating back to times long before Rumi and Hafiz. ”My way of thinking about life has very much to do with him,” says Reza. What he appreciates about Omar Khiam is that he doesn’t make any religious references. “Religious people don’t like him very much,” says Reza laughing, “Instead it’s about enjoying the moment and forgetting the past and the future.” As a musician and performer, Reza never likes to impose a message on his audience. “When I play I am transported with my music and I hope my audience is too.” he says. “It just feels good to take them to another place. But it’s not something that you can try to do. It either happens or doesn’t happen. The doors are open.”

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Author: Gabrielle Smith-Dluhá

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