Improvissation in the Song of Silence

Improvisation in the Song of Silence is, first and foremost, an attempt to honor the essence of improvisation in Iranian music a tradition deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of this land, yet regrettably dimmed in recent times. In our improvisation, we are accompanied solely by historical memory, mental precedents, and the experience of co-existence. Beyond these, nothing neither the mode nor the melody, neither rhythm nor tempo, neither meter nor form is predetermined, not even the duration of the piece. Whatever emerges in terms of form, modality, articulation, and other musical elements arises spontaneously between us in the moment. Thus, our effort and intention have been to perform an improvisation that is, as much as possible, pure and unpremeditated.

On another level, this concert is an exploration of instrumental music and its potential to transmit emotion and exchange meaning through sound and melody especially in the cultural landscape of Isfahan, where poetry continues to permeate all art forms, including music itself. This endeavor stems from the understanding that Persian poetry and literature have long held an unrivaled dominion over all dimensions and functions of Iranian music, particularly since the advent of Islam in this region. Even today, much of the listening audience gravitates toward music that delivers its meaning through words and poetry. Yet, what grants music its very existence is its capacity to evoke, influence, and express emotions that language cannot articulate. In other words, music narrates sentiments and thoughts that, by their nature, resist verbalization.

This concert and album were born of a shared stage between musicians and listeners alike kindred souls bound by a collective grief and concern amid the turbulent years of the Iranian people, especially in the weeks approaching September 16, 2022 the threshold of the Jina (Mahsa) Uprising.
In this performance, each participant was a creator in their own right: Amirmahmoud and I drew inspiration from the presence of the listeners, and they, in turn, witnessed the resonance of their own being rendered audible.

Mahdi Haqiqi | July 20, 2025

Glimpses of Album

1. Part I

2. Part II