Essence of Persia: Authentic Instrumentation for Cinematic Soundscapes
Persian music is a deeply rich and culturally significant art form using intricate melodies and diverse instruments. Explore some of the virtual instruments that can be used to emulate that unique Persian sound.
So what makes Persian music unique?
Modal System (Dastgah and Radif): Persian music is based on a modal system called Dastgah and Radif. These are intricate systems of scales and melodic patterns that guide improvisation and composition.
Microtonal Intervals: Persian music often employs microtonal intervals, which are intervals smaller than the Western half-step. This allows for a more nuanced and expressive rendition of melodies.
Poetic Influence: Persian music is deeply intertwined with Persian poetry. Many classical Persian songs are based on famous poems by renowned poets like Rumi, Hafez, and Omar Khayyam, adding a layer of lyrical depth to the music.
Instrumentation: Persian music features a wide array of traditional instruments such as the tar, setar, santur, kamancheh, and ney, each with its own unique timbre and role in the ensemble.
Improvisation: Improvisation plays a significant role in Persian music performance, allowing musicians to showcase their creativity and skill within the framework of the Dastgah or Radif.
Rhythmic Patterns: Persian music employs complex rhythmic patterns, known as rhythmic cycles or "Daf," which provide a rhythmic structure for compositions and improvisations.
Regional Variations: Different regions of Iran and neighboring countries have their own unique styles and variations of Persian music, influenced by local traditions and cultures.
Emotional Depth: Persian music is known for its emotional depth and ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from melancholy and longing to joy and ecstasy.
Ready to get started? Take a look at some of the virtual instruments available from Kompose Audio…..
Ancient ERA Persia from Best Service
A collection of sounds from forgotten places of the middle east. Create your own melodies with 28 fully playable instruments, deeply sampled, with true legato and glissandi, different dynamics and lots of articulations.
Once again, Eduardo Tarilonte seduces you into almost forgotten sonic worlds. This time, he strikes out to capture sounds of the birthplace of magic and mystery and their ancient civilizations. Experience the arcane sounds from Arabian Nights, the soundtrack of desert sand trickling away in time and music that makes the Prince of Persia dance.
Origins Volumes 7 and 10 from Sonuscore
Origins Vol. 7 - Tar (Persian)and Chonguri (Georgian) are two incredibly beautiful eastern string instruments. United, they form the perfect couple for Origins Vol. 7. Both amazingly complement each other’s tonal colors and allow a huge variety of timbres.The Tar’s steel strings are plugged with a plectrum, resulting in a very pure and definite sound, marvelously reflecting the legendary Persian culture, which the Tar has been a part of for hundreds of years.
Origins Vol. 10 - The deep sonority of the Contrabass Panduri perfectly complements the twangy drones of the Tanbur. The Contrabass Pandui, a modern twist on the ancient Georgian Panduri, is a low register instrument used for concert folk performances. The Tanbur is an ancient Middle-Eastern, long-necked lute-like instrument whose drones and picks have graced musical tradition from the Balkans, Turkey, and Arabia to Persia, India, and Central Asia.It is the definitive classic instrument to add that "Eastern" sound.
Silk from EastWest
Effortlessly pull your listeners into the ancient world of your choosing. Produced by award-winning sounds producers Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix, Silk features a large collection of world instruments from the lands of the Silk Road: China, India, and Persia. These bowed, plucked, and wind instruments were performed by master instrumentalists who have spent years perfecting their craft and were recorded using vintage Neumann microphones at legendary EastWest Studios. Using SILK's broad range of articulations, live-recorded legato and full phrases, you can quickly create an ensemble that sounds like it was recorded in a time and place far removed from our own.
Desert Winds from Best Service
Desert Winds, another virtual instrument from Eduardo Tarilonte, the creator of "Epic World" and "Forest Kingdom", featuring 21 exotic and oriental soundscapes based on four unique ethnic solo wind instruments. It is a perfect tool for composers and sound designers to create ambience and music for films, documentaries, video games and new age music.
Crafting Persian music is like telling stories through sound, weaving centuries of culture and emotion into each note. It's a journey through Iran's heart, echoing ancient tales and modern life. With instruments like the santur and ney, every melody celebrates the nation's resilience and beauty. Making Persian music isn't just playing notes; it's capturing the soul of a culture in every rhythm and crescendo.
