The Revival of Iranian Classical Music during the Second Pahlavi Period: The Influence of the Politics of “Iranian-ness”

• Author / Creator

  Salehyar, Hamidreza

• This thesis demonstrates the process of the gradual formation and development of revivalist ideas in Iran’s musical society during Muhammad-Reza Pahlavi’s reign (1941 - 1979). Examining multiple articulations of Iranian nationalism, this research focuses on three different historical periods—from the late nineteenth century to 1941, from 1941 to 1953, and from 1953 to 1979—to demonstrate how different nationalisms influenced Iran’s music scene and encouraged a return to the Qajar musical tradition. Introducing dominant discourses on Iranian classical music from the 1920s to the 1970s as reflected in publications, this study traces the development of these discourses to explain the gradual emergence and maturation of revivalist ideas and practices within musical society pre-1979 Iran.This thesis argues that Ali-Naqi Vaziri’s students, including Ruhullah Khaliqi and Mehdi Barkechli, provided necessary practical and intellectual prerequisites for the revival of Iranian classical music during the mid-late 1940s. From the mid-1950s, the first generation of Iranian musicologists and ethnomusicologists also acknowledged the significance of Iran’s musical traditions. The efforts of all these musicians attracted the support of the state after the 1953 coup. The state’s cultural policies, which were motivated by political concerns for authenticating the Iranian monarchy, encouraged the celebration of Iran’s cultural heritage. Concurrently, the social, cultural, and political crises motivated some musicians to advocate for Iranian classical music as an antidote to perceived cultural and political corruption. While Daryush Safvat interpreted the music as a mystical practice to challenge emerging commercialism, Muhammad-Reza Lutfi employed Iranian classical music in his innovative works as a form of political resistance against the state. Thus, from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s, the state and its critics encouraged the revival of Iranian classical music while pursuing their own objectives.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Multiple Modernities
  • Tradition
  • Authenticity
  • Iranian Nationalism
  • Iranian Classical Music
  • Music Revival

• Graduation date

  Fall 2015

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R34T6FD7S

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.