Daramad for Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone and Fixmedi

2020, the University of Oklahoma (the USA), Zen Duo

Daramad means to start music in Persian. Daramad for me, means composing a new piece which has a new experience. Conec- tion between contemporary and classical Persian music is the most important issue in this piece. For composing, I used an old Persian song “CHE SHAVAD BE CHEHREYE ZARDE MAN…”which was writen in Bayat-e-Turk. Bayat-e-Turk is an old Dastgah in Persian music and had been very famous for a long time.

Daramad for Tar and Fixmedia

“Daramad” means to start music in Persian. Also, “Daramad” means composing a new piece which has a new experience for me. It is the first time that I write a piece for Tar and Fixmedia. It is clear that finding a new perspective of this instrument has a profound importance for me. However, Tar as a classical instrument in Persian music plays a powerful role but a few contemporary composers have worked on this instrument. I tried to find new techniques in Tar that were hidden.
‌Moreover, “Daramad for Tar and fixmedia” was commissioned by Yarava Electronic Studio (YES). I appreciate having for this opportunity that YES gave me. I wrote this piece in 4 days, as I have forced to recorded it very soon. 
Tar: Golnaz Khalili
commissioned by Yarava Electronic Studio (YES)

 

  • “Who am I?” for Clarinet in Bb and Fixmedia, 2020, New York (the USA), Kathryn Vetter
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  • “One of the most important questions is “who am I?”, and finding an answer for it is absolutely important for everybody in the world. How we can find an answer for it? Many philosopher tried to find an answer for this question, but I believe that it is not enough as the our world is changing every moment and the existence of individuals are different, so it is crucial for everybody to find it by their own self.
  • For recording of this fixmedia, 53 persons participated in quarantine with 21 different languages from China, India, Turkey, Finland, Japan, Germany, Norway, South Korea, Denmark, South Africa, the USA and Iran.” 
  • Clarinet: Kathryn Vetter
  • Fixed Media by Ali Balighi
  • Audio by Ali Balighi and Kathryn Vetter
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  • Daramad for Piano, Violin, Bassoon and Percussion
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  •  Written for Front Porch ( the University of Michigan)
  • “Daramad” in Persian means the starting of music, the moment when every performer would be ready to play. This music is made by a member of a traditional group and it describes the mode of concerts in traditional styles; however, nowadays neither traditional musicians nor younger players use this form in their current repertoires.
  • My piece Daramad was composed according to an old Persian music Be Soye To. This song is a famous piece which was written by Majid Vafadar in Dashti mode. Simple structure, melody, harmony, and the profound atmosphere this song creates inspired me to write my piece in a manner different from my usual practices. I believe that form, as an important aspect of music, is truly made during the compositional process. Form is also an abstract concept that should be created from a new perspective in every contemporary piece. Moreover, the use of older and traditional materials is a good way to describe new scenes. Audiences who have some understanding of these aspects of music and composition can follow these new ideas when used in a new piece.
  • Composing for a new ensemble which I do not have enough experience writing for was my biggest challenge. However, Front Porch, as a professional ensemble, helped me to search for new and artistically fulfilling ways of self-expression.
  • All in all, for this piece will be played in the United States, I hope that Daramad will increase its audience’s interest in Persian culture.

The birth of tragedy for Santoor and fixmedia

    • 2019, Tehran (Iran), Puneh Zare’i Sefid Dashti
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Too loud a solitude for Cello and live electronic (Max/MSP)

    • 2019, Sprengel Museum (Hanover – Germany), Ulrike Brand (Germany) and Ali Balighi (Iran)
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Chahar-rah for 6 laptops

In Persian, Chahar-rah means crossing. The crossing always means arriving and getting away for me. The crossing is where that people see together, sometimes they walk away very fast or they stay and watch other. Arriving, departing…
The entire sound of this piece was recorded in my favorite crossing in Tehran. This crossing is where I went to university, I was falling in love and I grew up. I used the sound of street, the modern Persian music theory and a nostalgia sense in this piece.

 

Khane Haftom for Santoor and fixmedia

A little Piece for Violin and live electronic, 2018, Tehran (Iran), Neda Asadi Nejad (Violin), Ali Balighi (composer and live electronics)

Solo for a laptop Nr.2

Composer and live electronics: Ali Balighi

When Sanam Wept

Comoposer and piano: Ali Balighi
Kamancheh: Siavash Mollaian
A film by Fariborz Ahanin & Majid Sheida

The sea smiles in the distance, 2016, Tehran (Iran), Ailin Arjmand (Guitar)