New Book Offers Deep Dive Into Iran’s Musical Legacy

Date: 04 November 2025 - 22:03

News ID: ۱۴۵۴۴۲

TEHRAN — A new book, Iranian Classical Music, authored by Arvin Sedaghat-Kish, offers readers an accessible and comprehensive exploration of Iran’s urban musical heritage.
Published three years after its composition in December 2022, the work seeks to deepen public understanding of a music tradition historically referred to as “authentic,” “traditional,” or “national,” but increasingly recognized by scholars under the more encompassing term “Iranian classical music.”
Structured across nine chapters, the book guides readers through both historical and contemporary dimensions of the tradition.
Sedaghat-Kish opens with a discussion of terminology—examining why the label “classical” more accurately conveys the musical, cultural, and philosophical essence of the repertoire.
Subsequent chapters explore performance contexts, the social and professional role of musicians, and the composition and structure of the repertoire itself.
While chapters such as the fourth, devoted to repertoire, are slightly more technical, the author consciously balances depth and clarity to preserve the integrity of the musical concepts for a non-specialist audience.
Later sections examine the relationship between classical music and popular or folk traditions, pedagogical approaches to teaching, and the aesthetic principles that underpin the art form.
Sedaghat-Kish also provides a concise historical overview tracing the evolution of Iranian classical music over the past 6,000 years, highlighting key developments and cultural milestones.
The book’s final chapters consider the present and future of the tradition, while supplementary materials, including curated listening lists accessible via QR codes, enable readers to experience exemplary recordings aligned with the text.
Each chapter concludes with recommended readings to encourage further exploration, making the book both an introduction and a gateway to deeper study.
Sedaghat-Kish, a Tehran-born musicologist, conductor, and scholar, has published extensively in Persian and English on music criticism, theory, and contemporary analysis.
His previous works include Lectures on Music Criticism, and he has served as a juror and advisor for numerous national and international music festivals and publications.
Published by Bighah Press, Iranian Classical Music spans 189 pages with a first edition of 700 copies. By offering a richly layered yet approachable account of the country’s musical heritage, the book invites readers—specialist and generalist alike—to reconsider the textures, aesthetics, and enduring significance of Iran’s classical urban music.
This work contributes to an ongoing global conversation on music as both an art form and a cultural practice, situating Iran’s classical tradition within broader discussions of history, philosophy, and society.