Humayun Khurram

Khurram, Humayun (1939-)

Violinist and composer. Together with Parviz Yahaqqi, Habibu’llah Badi‘i, Asadu’llah Malik, Mihdi Khalidi and ‘Ali Tajvidi, he was one of the six violin soloists performing and composing many compositions in the Golha programmes (1958-78). He underwent a course in advanced musical education with the maestro Abu’l-Hasan Saba and made his debut in 1946-47. Having made a name for himself as a prodigious instrumentalist in childhood, later on his reputation changed from skillful instrumentalist to genius composer. While pursuing his academic education in the field of electrical engineering and prior to joining the Golha, he composed many songs for different (male and female) vocalists of repute which are still regarded as some of the most cherished works of Persian music, ranging from classical to high-quality popular music. He joined Golha during the directorship of Davoud Pirnia and continued to collaborate and contribute to the programmes down to the end of Ibtihaj’s stewardship thereof. Many works of his both as a soloist and as an instrumentalist accompanying other instrumentalists (and as a composer as well) were performed and recorded in the Golha. 

Khurram’s performances on the violin in the Golha are considered today as some of the most brilliant and masterly examples of Persian music. His style of playing seemingly is more indebted to his own ideas of musical composition rather than representing an attempt at demonstrating the art of playing. The masterpieces of his compositions are highly cherished and appreciated today, far more than in the time of their composition, and they have been performed many a time. His works have been released in the forms of cassettes, gramophone records, CDs, and books. His musical activities are confined to teaching and performing in concerts. His works include the book Nava-yi mihr (“The Song of Love,” edited by Babak Shahraki, Tehran: Chang 1988), Performance of the Repertoire (radif) of Maestro Saba with the Violin (Tehran: Chaharbagh 2005), Piano and Violin accompanied by Jawad Ma‘rufi (Tehran: Iran Seda 1958). One of Khurram’s students, Babak Shahraki (1980-) has attracted much public renown.