Lecture: The History and Culture of the Tanbour (Persian lute)

Ali Akbar Moradi is an acclaimed Iranian musician. He is a master tanbour (Persian lute) player and expert in the history and form of the instrument. He began playing the tanbour at the age of seven and learned not only the music but the Kurdish maqam repertoire. He has won awards, recorded several albums, and performed in Europe, the United States, and Canada with singers like Shahram Nazeri and at the Royal Festival Hall in London. In addition to teaching the tanbour in Tehran and his hometown of Kermanshah, Ali Akbar is a dedicated scholar of the tanbour and continues to develop the legacy of the instrument and the regional Kurdish music.

He will discuss the history and culture of the tanbour and three different kinds of maqams used with the instrument. 

This lecture is part one of a two part event. Please also join us for Mr. Moradi's concert on Saturday, May 5th at Cubberley Auditorium. He wil be joined by his two sons, Kourosh and Arash Moradi. More information here.

Part of the Stanford Festival of Iranian Arts.