Grurh-i Shayda

The Shayda Ensemble

The Shayda Ensemble was formed with the aim of reviving Persian traditional music (viz. the Persian urban music prior to ‘Ali Naqi Vaziri), favouring the compositions of the classical masters of the late Qajar period, like Darvish Khan, Mukhtari, Naydavud, and Shahnazi. The musicians of the Ensemble were among the first graduates of the first Academic Department of Music in Iran (founded 1962). Unison classical Persian instruments were only used in the orchestra. The musicians included: Muhammad Riza Lutfi, the conductor, tar and setar instrumentalist, and composer; Nasir Farhangfar, tunbak; Darvish Riza Munazzami, kamancha; ‘Abd al-Naqi Afsharniya, ney; Isma’il Sidqi-asa, ‘ud; Farrukh Mazhari, tarbas; Pashang Kamkar, santur; Bizhan Kamkar, Tunbak. The vocalists included: Muhammad Riza Shajariyan, Sima Bina, Shahram Naziri, and Hingama Akhawan. The ensemble was formed aiming to the restore Persian music. Supported by Hushang Ibtihaj, Muhammad Riza Lutfi joined Radio Tehran and following Ibtihaj’s approach to music, performed and recorded some musical pieces and set foot in the arena of music as well as poltico-social activities. The Shayda Ensemble was active until early 1980, but was dissolved following Lutfi’s immigration to Europe and the States in 1985 and failed to regain its former harmony despite Lutfi’s endeavours to re-organize it.