Iranian Kurdistan
In Iran, Kurdish language and radio stations have generally been allowed on an on-and-off basis, depending on the directions of the views taken by the gorvernment of the time, though music has long been carefully scrutinised for political references. Kurdish music from Iranian Kurdistan has a rather distinctive form with its ancient native instruments such as the Daff and the tamboor and with a shadow of Iranian influence while itself, has influenced the music of Iran in general to a certain degree. The sacred sufi music of the Yarsanî sect (Ahleh Haqq) with its 72 meqams is thought to be one of the most authentic and deep-rooted musical traditions in the world.
Some of the most famous classical musicians, composers and singers of the past century from this part include Hassan Zirak (Boukan 1921–1972) who performed and recorded more than a thousand songs, Mohammad Mamlê (Mahabad 1925–1998) who was known for his heartwarming voice, Abbas Kamandi (Sanandaj), Aziz Shahrokh, Hassan Darzi, Seyed Mohammad Safayi, Osman Hawrami, Najmaddin Gholami (Sanandaj) and Mazhar Khaleqi (Sanandaj).
Several Iranian Kurdish singers and musisians have been highly influential in classical Persian and Iranian music in general, including Sayed Ali Asghar Kordestani (1882–1936) who was allowed to perform in Kurdish on the Iranian national radio, Shahram Nazeri (Kermanshah 1950 - ), Kayhan Kalhor (Kermanshah), Mohammad Jalil Andalibi (Sanandaj), Mojtaba Mirzadeh, and Jamshid Andalibi (Sanandaj).
The Kamkars (Baradaran-e Kamkar) from the city of Sanandaj is a leading ensemble in Kurdish music today. They are internationally renowned for their performance of Kurdish folk music and with great dynamism and innovation. Some members of the group, including Arsalan and Hooshang Kamkar, have also worked individually and produced successful works. The brothers have also been leading Persian performers, working hand in hand with a number of very high-profile Persian singers in the classical genre, like the most famous and renowned Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, along with whom they arguably managed to stop the extinction of the none-religious Iranian music after a ban by the Islamic government, making them a household name all over Iran.
Nasir Razazî (Sanandaj), who now resides in Sweden, performs Kurdish music from all genres. Ali Akbar Moradi is the greatest master of the religious tembûr music of the Yarsan sect to which he belongs. Female singers include Nasir Razazi's late wife, Marziye Fariqi, her sister, Leila Fariqi who is known for performing pop-Westernised songs, Fattaneh Validi (Sanandaj) and Shahin Talabani (Sanandaj) who mainly performs classical folklore.
Morad Kaveh is a Kurdish musician and singer, currently living in Sweden. He has been very successful in modernizing the Kurdish music. Firmeski Gesh Nostalgi Album
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