Mohammad Beyg Rokhbin Gurajubi

The late Mohammad Beyg Rokhbin Gurajubi was born in 1287 SH (1908/09), the son of Khodayar, and came from the village of Gurehjub-e Moradbeyg. Since from his childhood and youth there were great masters of kalam (the sacred hymns of the Yarsan) and tanbur in Qeshlaq and Gurehjub, he too naturally developed a particular inclination towards kalam and the authentic local melodies. He collaborated in singing maqam songs and kalams, in particular with the late Lalu Birkhan of Zardeh and the late Ka Hawas Abbasi; several cassette tapes of theirs still survive and are counted among the authentic sources. Lalu (“uncle”) Mohammad Beyg, as he was known, is likewise counted among the select masters of his time. He had a distinctive style, throat and timbre, and sang the maqams (maqam: a traditional melodic piece/mode of the tanbur) “Bariyeh”, “Gharibi”, “Mohammad Hasan Khani” and “Gol-o Khak” in an unrivalled, incomparable way.

His sweet and plaintive voice moved and transformed everyone who heard it. Unfortunately, to this day no name or trace can be found of these great figures who have departed this world, although music and art are indebted to the efforts of these unknown masters.

Lalu Mohammad Beyg died in his birthplace on 2 Ordibehesht 1366 SH (22 April 1987), at the age of 76.

Source: Telegram channel “Navaye Tanbur”, 8 June 2017; written by Alireza Abbasi Gurajubi (Qasr-e Shirin, 18 Shahrivar 1394 SH / 9 September 2015).