Old Persian Tasnifs by
Javad Badizadeh
The late Javad Badi'zadeh was born in 1902 in Tehran. His father though being a clergyman was an enlightened personality and encouraged his son to learn the vocal technique of Persian music, and traditional religious drama that is called ta'zieh. After elementary lessons he studied with his uncle that was a professional singer.
Whilst cultivated in the strict classical tradition he also showed interest to the forms of western dances such as waltz, tango and foxtrot. After having some experiences in composing European and American dance-form pieces with Persian text he managed to establish his own style. In his late career in addition to serious songs he had composed and sung, he turned his face to a forgotten class of Avazes that is to say the comic songs or as Iranian called them "Fokahi." Of the serious songs of his matured style one "The Autumn of Love" is the most famous. Beside these serious songs he is now remembered as probably the greatest of humourous singers.
The Late Javad Badizadeh died at the age of 77 in Tehran. It was said that he had recorded more than 600 avazes and tasnifs. May his memory and name will last forever. ...
Published [03/09/2002]