Persian Tradition

Thanks to the wide research plan led by musicologist Jean During in Iran and in Central Asia, it is well known that Persian influence on Central Asian musical cultures was huge, starting with Achemenid age (6th century B.C.), and going on until Middle and Modern ages. A selected group of Persian miniatures, showing musical scenes and illustrating Persian ancient traditions displays the originary influence of Persian culture on musical features along the Silk Road civilizations. It’s only worthwhile to be mentioned that the Emirate of Bukhara was elected as a central and sacred site in Persian Empire. Starting with ‘ud, and going on with different lute shapes, such as tar, dutar or tanbur or with Persian zither santur (chang in Uzbek tradition) similar features can be found between Central Asian instruments and some from Ancient Persia. Of course, such a basic influence did not exclude many original inventions, different from people to people, and further contaminations from India, Pakistan and China.