Iraj Haghdoust
Tanbur, tar and setar player, composer, leader of the Rezhian ensemble
Iraj Haghdoust (also known as Iraj Gerdakani) is a tanbur player, composer and maqam expert from Gerdkaneh near Kangavar in Kermanshah province, and one of the players of the tanbur’s period of transformation. He performs maqam music and also takes part in contemporary tanbur playing.
Kangavar and the Baba Taher ensemble
Haghdoust is one of the figures of Kangavar’s golden age of tanbur playing and, together with Siavash Ashrafi and Fereydoun Haghighi, counts among the town’s best-known tanbur players. All three joined the Baba Taher ensemble led by Seyed Khalil Alinejad, and together they set up a workshop in Kangavar.
By his own account he was Seyed Khalil’s student for fifteen years.
Recordings and performances
Tanbur on the Baba Taher albums Sana-ye Ali and Ayin-e Mastan;
the memorable performance of Seyed Khalil Alinejad at Vahdat Hall.
Today
Haghdoust also plays tar and setar. Unlike some of his old companions, such as Golnazar Azizi and Kambiz Mohitmafi, he did not withdraw after Seyed Khalil’s death. A music specialist, he now directs the Sama music school and is the composer and leader of the Rezhian ensemble.
On his teacher
In a note about Seyed Khalil, Haghdoust wrote of his teacher’s mysticism, humility and self-discipline, his love of research and travel — to countries such as Japan, Sweden and China — and his habit of fasting for much of the year.
Website: irajsama.com · Instagram: @irajgerdakani_haghdoost
Source: his profile on tanbur-music.ir.