Reza Vali: The Book of Calligraphy

Carpe Diem String Quartet

Catalog #: TROY1603-04
Release Date: December 1, 2015
Format: Digital
Chamber

Born in Iran, composer Reza Vali studied at the Conservatory of Music in Tehran, the Academy of Music in Vienna and the University of Pittsburgh, where he received his Ph.D. He has been a faculty member of the School of Music at Carnegie Mellon University since 1988. The recipient of numerous honors and commissions, including the honor prize of the Austrian Ministry of Arts and Sciences, his music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the U.S., including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Kronos Quartet, and Da Capo Chamber Players, among many others. His music appears on the Naxos, New Albion, MMC, Ambassador, ABC Classics, and Albany Records labels. In 2001, Vali broke away from the European music system and started composing music based on the Iranian Dastgâh/Maghâm system. To explore his goals of replacing the European equal temperament tuning system; European polyphony; European musical form; and utilizing rhythmic cycles of the Dastgâh/Maghâm system, Vali started composing a series of chamber work using the title Calligraphy. This recording contains all twelve of his Calligraphies, composed between 2000 and 2011.

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Track Listing

Title Composer Performer
Calligraphies Reza Vali Carpe Diem String Quartet
Calligraphy No. 4 Reza Vali Darius Saghafi, Persian santur; Carpe Diem String Quartet
Calligraphy No. 5 Reza Vali Charles Wetherbee, violin
Nayshâboorak (Calligraphy No. 6) Reza Vali Carpe Diem String Quartet
Kismet (Calligraphy No. 7) Reza Vali Paul Taub, flutes
Kereshmeh (Calligraphy No. 8) Reza Vali Boston Modern Orchestra Project; Gil Rose, conductor
Kord (Calligraphy No. 9) Reza Vali Carol Ou, cello
Khojasteh (Calligraphy No. 10) Reza Vali Charles Wetherbee, violin; Carol Ou, cello
Gâtâr (Calligraphy No. 11) Reza Vali Carpe Diem String Quartet
Keryân (Calligraphy No. 12) Reza Vali Carpe Diem String Quartet

Reviews

  • "As a series, The Book of Calligraphies is fascinating to hear. The sound is exotic; the harmonies, based on the Iranian/Persian augmented scales, are both rich and jaring to Western ears the music moves in ways that are comprehensible and ultimately satisfying. I stand i awe of the performing artists "

    – Fanfare

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