ABOUT THE EVENT

Ali Kian Yazdanfar, double bass
Kimia Rafieian, piano
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor of Persian and Chair of UMD's Roshan Institute for Persian Studies

Sayeh-Roshan (Persian for “chiaroscuro”) is the interaction of light and shadow, and this idea can be easily applied to many aspects of modern life. In a politically and socially polarized world, there is a constant pressure to take a stand on one side or the other. However, life is more complex than simple black and white, and the in-between is not gray but rather a complex pattern unique to each individual. There is always interaction between competing desires, ideas and perspectives–past and present. Tradition and modernity. Beauty and ugliness. Sayeh-Roshan is centered around three new works for double bass and piano written specifically for this program; it asks the composers and performers to consider what their Persian identity means to them now, living in the West, and how a chiaroscuro-like interaction of the West and East has become a part of them.

PROGRAM

Poetry Reading in Persian and English performed by Fatemeh Keshavarz

Amir Eslami: Sallaneh for Double Bass and Piano
Poetry Reading
Behzad Ranjbaran: Hidden World

Persian Classical Music selections performed by Kajwan Ziaoddini and Kimia Hesabi

Parisa Sabet: His Gabbah is Turquoise
Poetry Reading
Reza Vali: Laylâ, Folk Songs Set No. 18

This project acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts in the commission of these works.

FUNDING

This performance is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council and The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. The event is presented in partnership with the UMD Roshan Institute for Persian Studies.