WOMAD

Chemirani's

From France, Iran

The Chemirani Ensemble is a renowned Persian classical music ensemble. The group is made up of Chemirani family members, master percussionist, Djamchid and his sons Bijan, Keyvan and daughter Maryam. The Chemirani Trio was established in 1988 and their special chemistry and peerless virtuosity has firmly established the 'zarb' as one of the world's foremost percussion instruments.

Djamchid Chemirani the father studied the tombak from an early age. He came to Paris in 1961 and has taught at the Centre d'Etudes de Musique Orientale in the Paris Sorbonne Institut de Musicologie and has performed with eminent Iranian musicians Dariush Safvat, Daryush Talai and Madjid Kiani.

His son, Keyvan, was born in Paris in 1968 and started learning the zarb at the age of 13. Taught by his father, he quickly assimilated the traditional technique, launching an international career as soloist and accompanist in 1989. His second son Bijan began studying the zarb early on with his father and brother and now plays the daf, riqq, and cajon. He has issued an album, Gulistan: 'Rose Garden' with Ross Daly.

Since their inception as rhythmic masters, the trio Chemirani quickly established themselves on the international music scene, recording and performing with folk and classical musicians from around the world. Their sister Maryam now adds her beautiful voice to this already virtuosic group.
Their workshop sessions will introduce students to the classical Persian percussion instruments, describing their history, how they are played, traditional context and examples of how they have introduced these delicate instruments into a number of musical collaborations. Instruments they will be showing and playing will include: the zarb, the daf and the riq. They will teach students traditional rhythms and how to build layers of rhythm, using hand held percussion and simple clapping exercises, while Maryam will teach traditional songs and vocal techniques alongside.
(Biography supplied by artist management 2010)

Chemirani's

Chemirani's on