David Dalle
Thursday May 8th, 2014 with David Dalle
Farewell to Mohammad Reza Lotfi

I am heartbroken over the death of one of the greatest masters of the past four decades of contemporary Persian music, Mohammad Reza Lotfi. A master of the tar and setar, he was instrumental in reinvigorating Persian music by both looking in the past and the future, mixing folk and classical traditions, ancient and new techniques, his music is some of the most profound and beautiful I have ever heard. Listening to his music I feel like I am listening to the heart of the world, to the essence of what makes us human. It is astonishing music. We hear a live recording of Mahur with Reza lotfi on setar. He is accompanied by Mohammd Ghavihelm on tombak and daf. Reza Lotfi also sings at moments in this work, and the singing is so passionate and sounds so spontaneous, you feel like his voice bursts out as he is overcome from emotion, the listener surely is! He sings two poems by Hafez: Mystery of Love and Kharabat Khani; and one by Jalal al-Din Rumi: In this new love, die Inside this new love, die. Your way begins on the other side. Become the sky. Take an axe to the prison wall. Escape. Walk out like someone suddenly born into colour, do it now. You're covered with thick cloud. Slide out the side. Die, and be quiet. Quietness is the surest sign that you've died. Your old life was a frantic running from silence. The speechless full moon comes out now. You can listen on-demand to a live concert by Bahman Panahi, one of Lotfi's accomplished students, on my previous show Oct 3 2013 http://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/105/13804.html