1BDD37B5-2080-4C68-9279-E4A0FD751502

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ID1BDD37B5-2080-4C68-9279-E4A0FD751502
TitlecodeR01544
Title NameSegah, Double Concerto for Persian Ney, Kamanche, and Orchestra
Marketing CopyThe Persian traditional music (called the Dastgah Segah) is based on intervals made of three quarter-tones and natural whole-tones. Segâh has no interval in common with the European/ Western equal-temperament tuning.

This lack of common intervals between the Segâh mode and the equal-temperament tuning will lead to a “cognitive dissonance” if this mode is set against the equal-temperament system. My goal has been to elaborate on the innate tensions that exists between the two interval systems and use it as a symbol for the existing political and cultural tensions between the Persian and the Western cultures.

The piece consists of two Persian traditional instruments, the Ney (Persian vertical bamboo flute), and the Kamânche (Persian spike fiddle), as the musical representatives of the Persian culture, set against the Western orchestra, as the musical representative of the Western culture. A small ensemble of Western instruments consisting of a harp, and string quintet accompanies the Persian instruments. The harp is tuned to the Segâh intervals and the string quintet plays in the Segâh mode. The orchestra is performing in the Western equal- temperament tuning.

From the very first bars of the main section of the piece, confusions and misunderstandings arise. The orchestra, being unable to play in Segâh, or understand the mode, becomes more and more agitated. Musical tensions between the soloists and the orchestra lead to musical confrontations and finally to musical violence. The orchestra becomes extremely violent and militaristic and tries to suppress the soloists’ efforts to express their musical thoughts.

In the midst of all these confusions and cultural misunderstandings, musical connections and attractions start to take place. The orchestra and the soloists find themselves musically attracted to each other and start imitating each other’s musical phrases. Cognitive dissonances start to be gradually transformed to musical dialogues symbolizing the gradual replacement of the “clash of civilizations” with the “dialogue of civilizations”. Segâh was written for Khosrow and Kian Soltani and premiered at the Segah Festival on January 15, 2016.
InstrumentationNey (Persian Flute) and Kamanche (Persian/ Turkish spike fiddle) soli: 2(2dPicc).1dEH.2(1dCl in A, 2dBcl).2(2dCbsn): 1.2.2.1: Timp(dPersian Frame Drum).Perc(2).Pno.Hp: Str
Commission(not set)
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Program Notesadd
Title Brand2
Year Composed2010
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Duration29
Ensemble Size0
Date Created2016-03-30 20:31:15.000000
Date Updated2025-09-30 20:31:15
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Title Category7
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Title Instrument Category TextFull Orchestra
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Title Sub Category47
Title Instrument Header41
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Clean Urlsegah-double-concerto-for-persian-ney-kamanche-and-orchestra-r01544