Universität zu Köln

Nematollahy, Kamyar (2022). Iranian Classical Music Since the 1970s: The Discourses of Tradition and Identity. PhD thesis, Universität zu Köln.

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Abstract

This dissertation examines the perception and practice of two major concepts—namely tradition and identity—in Iranian classical music since the 1970s. The 70s saw a blossoming of traditionalism in the intellectual and musical spheres in Iran, while also embracing the critical sociopolitical transformation which culminated in the Islamic Revolution in 1979. I explore these concepts (tradition and identity) through interviews with pivotal musicians and musicologists, as well as through relevant literature and musical analysis of selected pieces. This thesis argues that the overall perception of tradition in Iranian society, and specifically in Iranian music, has been polarized. One pole, the traditionalists, emphasizes the preservation of canonized Qajar musical traditions, while in contrast, the avant-gardists consider tradition detrimental to progress. This dissertation attempts to synthesize an intellectual framework for a recontextualization of tradition within Iranian classical music, adapted for new social circumstances and the new quest for social change. Hoping to foster the latent potential of dastgāh music, I herein challenge the constraints inherent to the current discourse on tradition and identity—as established by both the traditionalist and avant-gardist schools of thought—by employing important philosophical and sociological studies on the notion and function of tradition. In addition to this discussion of the perception of tradition, this dissertation explores the relationship between music and collective identity, in relation to the sociopolitical circumstances of various eras since the 1970s.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD thesis)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Nematollahy, Kamyar kamyar.nemat1987@gmail.com UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-543024
Date:	10 January 2022
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Fächergruppe 1: Kunstgeschichte, Musikwissenschaft, Medienkultur und Theater, Linguistik, IDH > Musikwissenschaftliches Institut
Subjects:	Social sciences The arts Music
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Iranian music, Trdition, Identity,Authenticity, Radif, Dastgah, Persian music, Classical music, Music and identity, Iranian music and the revolution, Iranian music and new media, innovation in Iranian music English
Date of oral exam:	19 June 2020
Referee:	Name Academic Title Spinetti, Federico Prof. Dr. Koch, Lars-Christian Prof. Dr. Gharasou, Maryam Prof. Dr.
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/54302