Ziya Tabassian - Remembrances (2023)

The foundation of this album is based on rhythmic cycles (Osul) collected from a manuscript written by Amir Khan Gorgi to the King of Iran during the Safavid period, in 1696. The rhythmic cycles were very common at that time and many composers wrote melodies on those cycles. In my previous album (Zarb-e Osul) I composed eleven pieces for percussion based on those rhythmic cycles. In this album, I imagined melodies with those rhythms. Some melodies might sound familiar, recalling past memories.

Homa is based on Osul Ramal (28 beats), in mode Homayoun. Lovebird is based on the rhythm of a poem by Hafez (a Persian poet from the 14th century), in 19 beats. Par-Afshan is based on the Osul Barafshan (16 beats) and changes from Minor mode to Major mode. Aquila is based on Osul Dowr-e Kabir (14 beats) and it’s inspired by the progressions in the mode Mahoor from Persian music repertoire. Dove is based on the Osul Fakhte (10 beats) in mode Dashti with some references to traditional melodies. Freebird is based on Osul Nim-Saqil (24 beats) and it flies freely from Pentatonic modes to Persian modes. Bahar is based on Osul Nim-Dowr (9 beats) in a mode that I created from the Raag Bassant (Indian music) with Persian music intervals. Bassant, or Bahar in Persian, means spring. Vazin is based on Osul Saqil (48 beats), the melody is first played by kanun and then as the melody is joined by a lute and viola da Gamba accompaniment, lends an early music flavour.

TarabZa is a piece that I first composed in 2011 exploring different treatments in a 7 beat rhythmic cycle. In this album, I've reimagined the piece adding strings and marimba.

Didem Başar, kanun (1-8)
Maryam Tazhdeh, tar (1-7, 9)
Yasamin Shahhosseini, oud (1, 3, 4, 6)
Sheila Hannigan, cello (2, 6, 9)
Anjana Srinivasan, violin (2, 9)
Saeed Kamjoo, kamanche (1, 3, 4, 5, 7)
Nazih Borish, oud (5, 7)
Emmanuel Hovhannisyan, duduk (5)
Fabio Accurso, luth (8)
Marie-Laurence Primeau, viola da Gamba (8)
Krystina Marcoux, marimba (9)
Ziya Tabassian, tombak, bendir, dayereh, def, naqareh, cajon, pocket shaker, cabasa, bell, spoons, anbor, cymbals

Tracklist:
1.01 - Ziya Tabassian - Homa (6:00)
1.02 - Ziya Tabassian - Lovebird (6:43)
1.03 - Ziya Tabassian - Par-Afshan (5:22)
1.04 - Ziya Tabassian - Aquila (5:40)
1.05 - Ziya Tabassian - Dove (6:24)
1.06 - Ziya Tabassian - Freebird (5:57)
1.07 - Ziya Tabassian - Bahar (7:14)
1.08 - Ziya Tabassian - Vazin (7:26)
1.09 - Ziya Tabassian - Tarabza (3:26)