An atypical security blanket: the soothing santur
An instrument with multiple strings bring the sounds of Iran to life.
Multiple strings and covered in walnut. In every way, this is not a security blanket. Yet for a 6-year-old in Iran, a 72-string santur covered in a gorgeous walnut wood provided comfort and strength through a difficult time.
Instrumental Stories' opening concert for the 2023-24 season introduced the magical Iranian dulcimer and its charming instrumentalist, Bijan Maysami to another sold-out audience.
Bijan's whole life changed when he was just six years old. The Iranian Revolution impacted his family, leading to his father's arrest and imprisonment. To help bridge the confusion and sadness he felt, Bijan's mom encouraged him to learn the santur under his uncle's tutelage, santur master Dr. Hosseiin Meysemi.
Bijan learned to play by ear at the tender age of six. In Iranian traditional music, learning music by ear is the way musicians learn. The musician listens to a piece of music and then replicates it on an instrument or with their voice, often without relying on written notation or sheet music. The audience was fascinated how a boy so young could master such a difficult task – memorizing everything.
Bijan shared his strategy with us: "I watched cartoons every weekend. As I watched what was happening on the television, I played along with my santur, composing little background music compositions as the cartoons played. It was fun to figure out the instrument and it got easier and easier to make the santur's music express what I saw on screen. I like to have a story, always, for my composition."
As he got older, the santur continued to be a welcome way to deal with challenges at home. His father never returned home and was presumed dead. Music soothed Bijan's emotional journey and his loneliness.
Bijan continued his studies at Tehran University, studying under Master Majid Kiani. He went on to form the Hoorami Music Band, winning numerous awards and competitions. Bijan's journey eventually brought him to Canada in 2004 and fortunately for us, he immigrated with his santur.
The Memorial Park Library audience heard a mix of traditional works for the instrument, then had the privilege to hear Bijan's own original compositions. Fusing multiple musical styles, cultures, and genres, many of his works were stories about his family. These included "Dancing Sorrow" and "Communication with Father," Bijan's tributes to his late father; "Mother," his extraordinary mother (who was present for the concert) and even a piece about his new home, with "Calgary Autumn."
The captivated audience at the Instrumental Stories concert not only heard him play the santur, Bijan also taught them about all its components: its multiple strings and scales, and the need to tune the instrument to a new key, for almost every number. At the end of the concert, he was surrounded by people curious to investigate this unusual, compact, and mystic instrument. This powerful, healing tool.
Instrumental Stories is your gateway to cultural musical experiences in Calgary. Back for a second season, this small, intimate monthly program is held in partnership with the Calgary Public LIbrary and is offered for free at the Central Memorial Calgary Public Library. It showcases instruments with deep cultural significance. Don't miss out on this extraordinary musical exploration. The next performance is Thursday, October 26, 2023 – Guzehg (goo-jang, or Chinese Zither) with Shirley Wong.
