Little Mountains

Little Mountains is formed around our personal interpretation of melodies from Iranian, Kurdish, and Macedonian traditions. Concepts borrowed from our respective backgrounds in various traditions, such as Iranian radif, folkloric music from the Middle East, and Eastern European traditional melodies, as well as contemporary composition and improvisation, are interpreted and collectively incorporated into these collaborative works. Our approach to learning and teaching these folk songs to each other relies mostly on oral transmission, memorization, and listening to the emotional worlds within the melodies. This album was recorded at the Contemporary Art Center recording studio at the University of California, Irvine in the summer of 2019.

Kooch-e Khamān

This album is the live concert recording of the Del Sol String Quartet performing compositions by young Iranian Composers residing in different countries. The works are by Gity Razaz, Adib Ghorbani, Elnaz Sayadi, Hesam Abedini, Nasim Khorassani, Niloufar Shiri and Iman Habibi, performed during a residency by the Del Sol String Quartet at the University of California, Irvine, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Music. All the pieces were written specifically for premiere performance in this concert. This rare project was made possible with the support of the Jordan Center for Persian Studies & Culture, Saman Foundation, and UCI Illuminations.

Cipher

Though sonically representative of two different regions and cultures of the world, traditional Iranian music and jazz are both rooted in improvisational practices. The music of Iran is an improvisatory music occurring within a specific framework that includes traditional melodic and rhythmic structures combined with Iranian poetry. Jazz improvisation also incorporates established themes and rhythmic patterns; however, over the years, jazz has openly welcomed international musical cultures into its contemporary forms. In this album, the Sibarg Ensemble explores the concept of combining the sounds of Iranian music and American jazz through an intercultural improvised music making. By utilizing Iranian and Western instruments, including the kamâncheh, târ, robâb, vocals, piano, double bass, and drums the musicians draw on their own musical backgrounds while creating a unique dialogue with one another. Ultimately, this album cultivates something that is neither Iranian nor American, but rather a fluid soundscape that transgresses regional and cultural identifications.

Ode to Love

Sponsored by the Jordan Center for Persian Studies at UC Irvine and Saman Foundation, and Farhad Shah-Hosseini