Mirza Abdullah Farahani

Mirza Abdullah the son of Aga Ali Akbar was born on October 12, 1843 in Shiraz , in Iran .

Iranian musician, master of packaging and setar , the founder of the Iranian classical music training system based on the ideas of Radif. The earliest known radiophs were transmitted by two masters - Mirza Abdullah and Mirza Hussein Cooley (died in 1913).

These two brothers, who put their whole life to teaching their radiophs a new generation of musicians, transferred the repertoire of classical Iranian music at the same time in a monolithic and laconic form, choosing for this purpose only certain versions of melodies from many common performing options.

Unfortunately, little is known about the life and work of Mirza Abdullah. Reliable sources inform that his father, Aga Ali Akbar Farahani, the son of Shah Valiollah, was the court musician of Mohammed Shah Kajar and Nasruddin Shah . During his lifetime, he became a famous tariffist, but did not manage to pass on his knowledge to his two sons: he died when they were still children.

Mirzu Abdullah was originally taught to play the container and set by his older brother Mirza Hassan, and when he died, Aga Golam Hossein, the nephew of Ali-Akbar Farahani, also a famous performer on the container, took his uncle's children (Mirza and Hoseingoli) to raise. In order to remember his repertoire, the brothers had to listen outside the door to how he was rehearsing, and literally “steal melodies”. Mirza Abdullah not only gained knowledge from him about Iranian classical music, but also improved his performing skills until he was considered an outstanding tariffist of his time.

Mirza Abdullah founded a music school and raised many students. The renowned musician did his best to preserve Iranian national music; the result can be considered that almost all modern performers are under his influence. It is known that Abdollah organized the traditional repertoire of Persian classical music (radioph) using various sources. He adopted some melodies from his father, others from his cousin, the rest from experts in classical destgyah .

• Iranian music

• Caton, Margaret. Baha'i Influences on Mirza Abdollah, Qajar Court Musician and Master of the Radif. In Juan Cole & Moojan Momen , "Studies in Babi and Baha'i History, Vol II: From Iran East & West," Kalimat Press, 1984, pp. 30–64.

• Mirza Abdullah Farahani (Pers.)