Afshin Saebnejad

Afshin Saebnejad (born 1983/84 in Tehran) is a tanbur player, a maker of the tanbur and other plucked string instruments, and a music transcriber. The tanburs he builds under the “Saeb” mark are known for a tone well suited to ensemble playing and the stage. He belongs to the new generation of tanbur musicians.

First encounter with the tanbur

As a teenager Saebnejad played daf at the Pir-Bastam khaneqah on Dowlat Street in Tehran, and it was there that the sound of the tanbur captivated him. He learned daf at the khaneqah and later, after hearing a Radio Payam announcement for a workshop by Farhad Andalibi, took specialised daf training at the Shafagh cultural centre.

At the khaneqah he met leading tanbur players, among them Darvish Amir Hayati, who deepened his interest. Above all he admired the playing of Davood Azizi, a student of Golnazar Azizi, though he had little opportunity to work with him.

Teachers

• Abradat Kakavand, brother of Ramin Kakavand: his first tanbur lessons.

• Heydar Kaki: the Dalahu and Guran schools of tanbur. Saebnejad was one of Heydar Kaki’s first students in Tehran.

• Ali Akbar Moradi: maqams and kalam.

• Hamidreza Fallahi: his start in tanbur making, which he then pursued professionally.

Transcriptions

• Aram-e Jan: pieces by Masoud Arzanlou in notation for students.

• Tah-razha-ye bastani-ye tanbur (The ancient tarz of the tanbur): transcribed together with Heydar Kaki.

Performing

He plays mainly with the Bang-e Nowruz ensemble led by Masoud Arzanlou, and played tanbur on the album Hamaseh-ye Dad.

Source: his profile on tanbur-music.ir.