Kalhor brings exotic ‘Persian Improvisations’ to Rollins
For improvised music to have real aesthetic value, not just hints of earnest beauty, takes more than talent. If Iranian musician Kayhan Kalhor is any indication, what is needed is a sense of the cultural and spiritual meaning of the musicÂ. This understanding was on display last Friday night in Rollins Chapel, when Kalhor, a Grammy-nominated artist and visiting music professor at the College this term, and Siamak Aghaei performed in “Persian Improvisations.” The concert featured the unscripted melodies of the kemancheh, a traditional Persian fiddle-like instrument and the santur, a dulcimer played with thin mallets. More »
