Music Groups Showcase Their Art on the Island of Colors and Sounds
The second day of the Qeshm National Oud Festival marked another significant step in bridging authenticity and innovation within Iranian music. This festival, held through the dedicated efforts of the BookCity Institute and hosted by the Qeshm Free Zone Organization, continues to welcome artists and enthusiasts of Iranian music from across the country, transforming the shores of Qeshm Island into a vibrant celebration of diverse sounds and cultures. BookCity, with its extensive network of cultural centers and bookstores nationwide, plays a pivotal role in realizing cultural initiatives like this, extending their mission of promoting arts and knowledge beyond traditional literary spheres.
In the group performance section, the music group “Narenj,” led by Mehdi Ghasemi, injected fresh energy into the festival atmosphere. Their performance of four pieces – “Deltangi” (Longing), “Bahar” (Spring), “Parish” (Bewilderment), and “Ashoub” (Turmoil) – successfully resonated with both traditional melodies and modern sensibilities. The presence of skilled musicians, including Mohammad Tavakkoli on oud, Siavash Mehmanpazir on percussion, Yasin Mansourabadi on santur, and Arshak Anvari on piano, created a captivating blend of instruments that drew prolonged applause from the audience.
The “Karma” group, led by Shahab Ameri Siahuyi and accompanied by Behnam Alizadeh on oud, Ramin Alipour on Dohol (a large double-headed drum), and Amir Tayyari on Morvas (a traditional southern percussion instrument), performed the piece “Sowt” (Sound). Their performance effectively demonstrated how the oud can create novel sounds when paired with various percussion instruments, highlighting the instrument’s versatility within diverse musical contexts. Fouad Touhidi, a researcher and player of regional music who was a guest on the second night of the festival, praised the diversity of instrumentation featured in this edition. He emphasized that while Iranian regional music is always rooted in authenticity, innovation should occur in a way that preserves local identity – a balance the festival actively seeks.
Continuing the second day’s programs, the “Bring Your Instrument” campaign was held in the central part of Qeshm city. Musicians from across Iran gathered in open spaces to perform, creating spontaneous musical moments for the public. Behnam Abolghasem, one of the organizers of this campaign, highlighted the enthusiastic reception from artists and commented, “Music knows no boundaries and increases the sense of social connection.”
Two festival attendees, Sajjad Khorasani (an island resident) and Azadeh Ghaffari (a visitor), spoke about the significant sense of belonging and empathy generated by this cultural event. Ebrahim Balapajouh, the manager of BookCity Mashhad, who traveled to Qeshm specifically for the festival, underscored the importance of these street performances, describing them as a bridge connecting all people and ethnic groups of Iran through music, and particularly through the oud. His presence and comments highlight how BookCity’s involvement leverages its national presence to foster connections across different regions of the country.
The Qeshm National Oud Festival, by integrating diverse instruments and drawing upon local and potentially international capabilities, is taking a new step towards cultural empathy and understanding. As the organizers have announced, the upcoming days will continue with specialized programs and educational workshops focused on the oud. This series of events serves as a significant motivation for young Iranian artists, encouraging them to see the oud not merely as an instrument, but as a symbol of cultural connection and dialogue across the entire nation.
The second Qeshm National Oud Festival is marked by the enthusiasm of music lovers. Organizers believe it serves as a catalyst for initiating momentum for other local and regional instruments and has the potential to create unique capacities for enhancing the country’s cultural diplomacy. BookCity’s support for such initiatives demonstrates its broader commitment to enriching Iran’s cultural landscape and fostering national cohesion through the arts.
Below, we invite you to view the image report capturing the essence of the second day of the festival.
Photographers: Marzieh Noorali and Marzieh Mousavi
Tags: Oud Festival, Qeshm, عود
