A beat that never fills the mind

For centuries, the people of the desert land of South Khorasan have been making instruments for themselves and producing sounds to soothe the hard days of drought; Instruments that sometimes accompany their joyous ceremonies and sometimes become vocal to escape loneliness in the lifeless desert.

Music tells the story of a people in the field of history and culture, the same is true of local and indigenous music of South Khorasan, and the people of this region for various activities, including agriculture and planting wheat to rain and other customs with special and diverse music. There are those who have separated the identity and culture of these desert dwellers from other people.

According to ISNA, in the South Khorasan region, beautiful songs and the most epic dances, compositions and songs are popular. Unfortunately, in recent years, the influx of Western music has severely damaged the life of this type of music and has caused this music to be on the verge of oblivion.

You do not see the rhythm of five beats except in South Khorasan

Musical instruments have a special place in the culture of the people of South Khorasan. In general, the instruments used in South Khorasan Province are divided into three general categories: “string instruments, percussion instruments and wind instruments”. The music of South Khorasan is characterized by rhythmic and dramatic movements. Music has a long history in this region, especially in Birjand. The city has a wide variety of dances and music. The five-beat rhythms (triple and double) common in this region have their own characteristics and are not common in other parts of Iran.

Birjand local instruments include; Dahl, serena (instrument), circle and reed, which are usually made by the musicians themselves. Some of the pieces of music for the local dances in this original area are nare nare, cheneshti, left and right, dive, ahwal, three beats. In addition to solo, duet and group dances, there are other dances that They also play with wood, they are considered as woodcutters.

In Ghohestan and Birjand region, beautiful songs and the most epic dances and songs are popular.

Dahl, serena (instrument), circle and reed, which are usually made by the musicians themselves, are among the local instruments of Birjand.

The dotar instrument is one of the instruments that is very common and is common everywhere in South Khorasan province and is an instrument from the family of long-hand instruments that is played with the paw.

Dotar instrument accompanies parting songs, stories that were performed musically in the region and has always existed alongside the songs of South Khorasan throughout history.

Dutar making is expensive, although its range of sound is small, but it is astonishing and polluted and with a mystical color and smell. .

Dutar South Khorasan has a unique sound and is usually larger than Dotar North Khorasan. The sound of the dotar bell in the southern regions of Khorasan, including Khaf, brings violence and harsh conditions to the waterless and grassy areas of these regions, along with the strength and stability of its people.

Due to its proximity to Sistan and Baluchestan province, “Qichak instrument” is also performed in South Khorasan province and is one of the bowed string instruments.

Serena and genuine joy in the mirrors of Sur

According to the local music of the province, there is a “fiddle instrument” in South Khorasan province, which is one of the bowed string instruments.

Serena or Sornai, which means the trumpet of happiness, means that the main popularity of the Sorna instrument in South Khorasan is due to its presence in the Sur rituals, and another function that the Serena instrument has had from the past to the present is that they performed epic songs with this instrument.

قوشمه یا قوش‌نی; It is another instrument that exists in South Khorasan province and has been mostly present in Sur ceremonies or celebrations that have been held in the past.

Dahl has always accompanied Serena in both martial and festive songs in order to maintain the rhythm. In the ritual movements that the artists perform, there should be a drum so that they can catch the rhythm of the movement and the group can do it in a more coordinated way.

Circle; It is an instrument that existed in South Khorasan province and was mostly used to participate in the women’s music section of the province. For example, at weddings, many songs related to the groom’s dressing or the bride’s enthronement, or at weddings, were sung by women in a special circle.

نی; It is one of the wind instruments with which most of the shepherd or shepherd songs were performed, and the reed instrument has always been the friend of the shepherds who used this instrument in the middle of the night and alone, and somehow relieved the sorrow and pain that existed in it. Has the tool.

Some of the special pieces of music of local dances in this region are Asil, Nare Nare, Cheneshti, left and right, dive, Ahwal, Se Zarb and…. In addition to solo, duet, and group dances, there are other dances that, because their dancers also play with sticks, are considered “sticks.” These dances are complex and difficult and require skill, practice and flexibility of the body.

Special woodworking songs include free, side to side, middle to ground, pack, hand to hand, back and wheat. Bridegroom (bridegroom), carrier, method (similar to march), Nasr and Joe (Nasr and Jan), garden alley, green salt, Gholam Pakhsh, pre-open, lullaby, welcome (welcome) and… Among the common and old songs of the region It is South Khorasan.

نی چوپانی; Reminiscent of loneliness in the desert

This instrument was usually made of metals such as brass. Its loudness is low, but in the heart of the deserts and deserts of different areas of Khaf, it has been and is a great entertainment for shepherds.

Other old instruments in Khaf, such as strings (six strings), flute and violin, have been less used due to their non-native nature and learning difficulties, but they have been played by great masters, and the works of these performances are available.

I forgot…

Salmabadi, the head of the Sahra maqami music group, told ISNA: “Sahra” maqami music group, which is known as the Salmabadi group, started operating in 1973 with the permission of the then Culture and Art Organization. Since then, the group has presented its art at domestic and foreign festivals. After the revolution, the first performances of this group began in 1967.

He said: “It is interesting that this music is very popular in other countries and officials, but they do not know its value in the province.” This maqami music can be registered in UNESCO and we ask the officials to work on its registration in UNESCO.

Salmabadi continued: it is necessary to pay more attention to this type of music, which shows the culture and cultural identity of the province; If people get acquainted with the main roots of the province’s music culture, they will use this music instead of foreign music in their weddings. When people get acquainted with this music, they protect it.

He stated that the situation of the veterans of the maqam music of the province is not favorable and we should think about them, and specified: when we have taken the motivations from the people, we should not expect this music to be given a price.

Birjand traditional instruments; In the basket of travelers and tourists

Hassan Ali Fooladi, head of the Birjand Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department, announced the existence of traditional Birjand instruments in the souvenir basket of travelers and tourists.

He said: ‌ Birjand, due to its geographical location and the facilities provided by nature, in addition to agricultural and livestock souvenirs, has a variety of handicrafts, including jewelry, night tents, kilims, wood industries, etc., some of which are world famous.

The head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department of Birjand city added: Simultaneously with Nowruz and the beginning of the new year, souvenirs of Birjand city were offered in bazaars and handicraft shops of Birjand city and many travelers and tourists visited those bazaars.

Fooladi continued by stating that good souvenirs and products were offered in the stores: wood, leather, woven fabrics, jajim, kilim, as well as traditional rugs, among other souvenirs that have been sold in these stores with higher quality and variety. Invites enthusiasts to its side.

He reminded: in addition to textile products and woven fabrics, making traditional instruments such as tar and dotar is one of the leading handicrafts of the city due to the importance and reputation of traditional music in this region. Has been.