Regional Music of Iran

Music of Baluchistan, Makkoran

Pahlavan Boland Zang Shahi & La’lbakhsh Peyk

Researcher: Mohammad Reza Darvishi

Mahoor Publication, 2016

The oral literature and the music of Makkoran region are absolutely divers and complicated due to the large geographic extent, elaborate Baluchi dialects and languages and also the various traditions and customs of the region.

Maaled (or Pire pattar) is one of the rituals of Makkoran. Guati ritual is rarely held in Sarhad region. The customs related to Naghshbandiye Sahiban Dervishs are being held at Saravan surroundings. Ghaderieh Dervishs mostly resided at Makkoran coastal areas and the most important music of Baluchistan (Shaeri) was prevalent from Iranshahr to Chabahar beach. The musical instruments that are heard in this music album include Sorud (or Gheychak), tanburak and Nal (or Ney). Singing in Baluchi Music has different forms and genres including: Leilu (Lullaby), Mutk (elegy), Amba (the songs for the seafarers), Nazink (women’s songs for celebrations), reciting sonnet by Sahiban Dervishs, Guati recitations (related to the music therapy ceremonies), Sawt (happy songs for wedding ceremonies) and She’r (romantic, historic and religious epic tales). This latter is the subject of this album. She’r means the oral stories and epopees of Baluchi clan; and Sha’er refers to the person singing these tales as songs very strongly and perfectly. In fact, Sha’er is the one carrying the culture, history and the literature of Baluchi clan in his mind.

In Baluchi culture, no one is as respectable as Sha’er, as he is the one keeping the identity of this clan and this is the reason why sometimes people call him as “the champion” (Pahlavan in Farsi). Sha’er is also the most skilful Baluchi singer. The lyrics of the She’r songs include the epic, historic, social, religious and romantic contents. It is possible that two or three of these contents are mixed together in a single tale. The texts of these tales could be as poetry or prose and this is Sha’er who mixes these two types together in the music…

In this music track you can hear a part of this music.