Danza Negra
Bello Atanda
Javad Ma'roufi
Year: 1970's.
Country: Iran.
Label: Unknown.
Javād Ma'roufi - Golden Dreams & Other Romantic Melodies
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Notes
“Javad Maroufi (جواد معروفی) was born in Tehran in 1919. He was one of the first musicians who chose to perform Persian music on the piano. Piano and violin were brought to Persia during the reign of the Qajar King Nassereddin-Shah. In the beginning, these instruments could only be found in the royal palaces and the homes of the nobility. Qolamreza Salar Moazez, Motamedolmolk Yahyaian, and Mahmoud Mofakham were among the first musicians who introduced the piano in Persia. Alinaqi Vaziri taught piano in his music school, and later, prominent musicians like Moshirhomayoun Shahrdar, Hossein Ostovar, Morteza Mahjoubi, and Javad Maroufi were the ones who were admired by the lovers of this instrument and by ordinary people. Maroufi was the son of Moussa Maroufi, a renowned player of the tar. Mousa was the best student of Darvish Khan and Alinaqi Vaziri. He paid special attention to his son Javad’s musical education. After completing elementary school, Javad Maroufi attended Alinaqi Vaziri’s School of Music. He started with the tar, but turned to the piano after a few years. Maroufi graduated from Vaziri’s School of Music in 1932. He went on to receive a diploma from the Tehran Conservatory, where he studied Western music. He believed that, in order to be able to play Persian music on the piano, one should also master the techniques of Western music. Maroufi began working at Radio Iran when it was established in 1941. He collaborated closely with the great Rouhollah Khaleghi as a piano soloist, as well as an arranger of works of other composers. He taught piano, music theory, and solfege at the School of National Music for many years. He also composed many original works for piano solo. Maroufi passed away in 1994.” (Rouhollah Khaleghi Artistic Center)
Here’s a much needed re-rip of this wistful, yet contemplative, solo set of Persian piano compositions by Javād Ma’roufi. Golden Dreams is a longtime personal favorite from my collection, highly recommended, we’ll say, for any other homeless wanderers who’ve found solace in the sounds of Tsegue Maryam Guebrou. Romantic regional piano solos; Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances, as another example, are slowly becoming a strong fascination, here. Do any discerning readers out there have further recommendations?
- Release Information
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Tracklist
Side A
1. Prelude no. 1
2. Prelude no. 2
3. Prelude no. 3
4. Prelude no. 4
5. Prelude no. 5
Side B
1. Jila
2. Golden Dreams
3. Kou Kou
4. Fantasie on Armenian Theme
5. Fantasie on La Minor - Download
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Comments (20)
20 Responses
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this is absolutely stunning. Thanks for sharing.
Mustapha Skandrani would be good as well for anyone who enjoys this one.
I’m always looking for something I haven’t heard before…I know nothing about this at all but your review has convinced me that I need to listen to this… thanks very much.
Truly moving. Thank you so much.
yes, mustapha skandrani (algeria) and abdallah chahine (lebanon) are both EXCELLENT!!! thanks for this
Oh man, I was just going to suggest Mustapha Skandrani! I uploaded his Virtuoses album to What about a year ago.
The first posting of this album partly inspired me to make a compilation of “pianoriental” pieces. I don’t remember which ones camefrom you, but you might want to check out the following: Diego Amadador’s flamenco piano, Alexander Mosolov, Maurice El Medioni (pianoriental), Kya Kya Naing (Myanmar drumming & Piano), Didier Squibran (celtic paino). Also try to find Stravinsky’s sacre du printemps for 4 hands (2 piano’s), Colin Mcphee’s piano transcriptions of gamelan, Debussy’s gamelan inspired piano pieces (like Pagodes). Hope this helps.
Music of Gurdjieff and De Hartmann with eastern & oriental soul
lots of nice suggestions, here. not nearly as obscure, but Anoushiravan ROHANI is amazing. when i play his stuff for pianists, their jaws always drop, and they just can’t believe his chop & technique. i love his extremely dramatic manner of interpreting stuff, haha… i think Maroufi was actually his teacher(?), so i’m sure everybody already knows about him…
Oh, Nick, just got a chance to listen to this tonight. Superb. Thank you.
this is great.
Still, Maryam Tsegue Gebrou is my absolute favorite piano album.
Also, check out Chilly Gonzales “piano works”. Two great solo piano albums that holds a lot of beauty…
It is indeed gorgeous. Thanks
Wonderful, beautifully melancholic.
thank u so much for this….who’d thought that an album with that front cover had so much more to give?
Amazing…
I recommend to lend your ears to Jan Johansson’s stunning album “jazz på svenska” (jazz in swedish)
Anybody have a link to a music download of Mustapha Skandrani? Will?
someone should reissue this on vinyl…its awesome
Dude, thank you very much for all the rich music that we find here. But specially this one, goes deep in the soul.
Cheers from Brazil!
Oh this is so amazing !!!! I glad that I know your site <3 So many awesome albums
This album is suitable for me to hear in a sunny afternoon :”> Thank you so much
I love music of Javad, reminds me in some passages to the music of my favorite pianist, Fred Sharpe, aka Raphael.
http://www.allmusic.com/album/intimacy-music-for-love-mw0000093700
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZVMyIJBCKk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bLDIfh22uM
A greeting.
Check out the music of Arno Babadjanian, an Armenian composer who mixed folk and classical elements. Nothing as creative as Bartok or Kodaly, but he’s got a nice Romantic tinge to his music that doesn’t sound ersatz. Here’s an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh-ArEnwB2k