Improvisations on Setar
Setar : Hossein Alizadeh
Tombak : Daryoush zargari
Hossein Alizadeh was born in 1951 in Tehran. He studied in the Tehran Music Conservatory as a child and was spotted by Ali-Akbar Shahnazi as a brilliant student. Then he studied with Yusef Forutan, Abdollah Davami, Sa'id Hormozi, Hushang Zarif, Habibollah Salehi and Mahmud Karimi and graduated from the College of Fine Arts in Tehran University. He began his career in 1968 by playing in Rudaki Orchestra directed by Hossein Dehlavi. In 1970 he gave concerts in the famous Center for Preservation and Propagation of Persian Music under Nur-Ali Borumand. Some of his works were performed and recorded in 1970s in radio programs followed by a period of collaboration with the Ensemble Sheyda, then founding the Ensemble Aref. His activities were always in favor of Persian music. He has exerted a deep influence on understanding Persian classical music among younger generation. He has introduced new theories and reforms in both improvisation technique and composition. He has founded a new school of his own and has now many followers who, in turn, transmit these improvements.
During 1970s as a sign of political protest he resigned from radio music office together with the other members of both ensembles. Afterwards he founded Chavush Institute in collaboration with Mohammad-Reza Lotfi and by composing numerous memorable hymns he made clear that innovative aspects of Persian music are actually countless.
His influence on the players is truly undeniable. Of his latest published works are Setâr Teaching Methodology (Elementary) and Tar and Setar Teaching Methodology (Intermediate).
