Shahin Farhat

Iranian composer and conductor, Shahin Farhat plans to compose a symphony about the events of Ashura.
Ashura, which is the tenth day of the lunar month of Moharram, marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of the infallible household of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and 72 of his loyal companions in the plains of Karbala, in present-day Iraq.
Farhat, who had earlier composed a symphony on Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Imam of the infallible household of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), told ISNA that he is waiting for a sponsor for his new symphony.
He also said that classical elegies about the tragedy of Ashura should be revived.
“A committee made up of skilled musicians should be formed to undertake research on this,“ he said.
Shahin, born in 1946 in Tehran, is one the prolific composers in Iran. He is presently a member of Iran’s Academy of Arts.
His compositions include symphonies such as ’Persian Gulf’, ’Damavand’, ’Iranian Lady’ and ’Tehran’.
Farhat’s symphony on Imam Reza (AS) is Inspired by the lofty personality of the Imam. He composed the symphony in four parts--the first is a sonnet reflecting the sufferings of Imam Reza (AS) for the prosperity of humanity, the second part reflects the thoughts of the Imam, the third part is about the earthly life and Imam Reza’s advice to the people on how to live in line with the Islamic principles. The fourth part focuses on the blessings of the life of the Imam.

A two-day congress themed ’Cinema-Architecture’ ended at the Art Academy on January 16 with calls for more efficiency in narrations.
Elaborating on the objectives of the congress, the event’s scientific secretary, Seyyed Mohammad Beheshti pointed to the interaction between cinema and architecture, and expressed hope that such events would bridge the gap between the two fields of art in the future, reported ISNA.
“Architecture is created as a result of human interaction with the environment,“ he said.
Beheshti, however regretted that Iranian cineastes make little tangible use of venue in their works and one can hardly find a cinematic work which properly narrates a specific place and time. Stating that narration is a common aspect of cinema and architecture, he said, “A good filmmaker is the one who focuses on moments, mis-en-scene and point of view.“
Noting that cinema’s foremost duty is to unravel the facts, he elaborated that the time and site of the film must be evident to the audience; however Iranian cineastes neglect this.
“Our filmmakers always narrate stories in ambiguous places. The audience can never recognize the name and the address of the locations in the film,“ he said.
Beheshti however, referred to the film ’Chaharshanbe Souri’, directed by Asghar Farhadi, as one of the rare Iranian films in which specific time and place are mentioned.
Meanwhile, Iranian producer Farideh Taerpour noted that the interaction between television and architecture should be also taken into account.
All articles presented to the conference will soon be published in form of a book.
Some of the articles included ’Advanced Architecture at the Service of Technologic Cinema’, ’A Plan for a National Cinematheque’ and ’Uncompleted Castle’, which deals with interaction between Iranian cinema, architecture and miniature.

Stratigraphical studies in Roudan city, located 35 kilometers from Hormuz Strait in Hormuzgan province, have resulted in the discovery of architectural layers ranging from the third millennium BC up to the Parthian (250 BC-226 AD) and Sassanid (226-650 AD) eras.
According to CHN, director of the studies in Temmaroun, Siamak Sarlak said that the studies, which were the first to be conducted in the area for the past 15 years, reveal that the geological specimens are at least 5,000 years old.
Discovery of 13 layers from the Parthian and Sassanid periods was unparalleled compared to the earlier rounds of excavation at the site.
Describing archeological studies as one of the most important ways for gathering further evidence to prove the Iranian origin of the Persian Gulf, Sarlak further said that more than anything else, the deeds obtained during the studies reveal the falsehood of claims about the name of the Persian Gulf.

Funds for promoting national cinema industry have increased by a solid 112 percent in the March 2008-2009 budget bill.
According to Fars news agency, the budget allocated to the sector will reach 460.9 billion rials from 210.7 billion in the current Iranian year to March, indicating a minimum two-fold increase.
Such increase in budget allocation has also been envisaged for other sections of the art sector.
Funds for promoting performing arts will increase by 67 percent to 140.6 billion rials from the current year’s 80.7 billion rials.
In the music sector, spending which stood at 50 billion rials this year will rise by 48 percent to 70.6 billion rials in the next Iranian year.
Visual arts budget will reach 60.6 billion rials from the current level of 50.2 billion rials showing a 26 percent growth.
Budget allocated for the welfare of artists, writers and journalist is currently 60.2 billion rials, whereas it will increase by 39 percent to reach 80.6 billion rials in the year to March 2009.

A number of Iranian intellectuals discussed the role of art and illustration in monotheistic religions on the sidelines of the two-day Monotheistic Religions Photo Biennial, which was held recently in Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural Complex.
According to ISNA, head of Iran’s Philosophy and Theosophy Association Gholamreza Avani said at the event that human beings cannot live without divine concepts and the only thing which can make mankind communicate with one’s divinity is divine theosophy.
The problem with modern science is that it is not science in the true sense of the word, he noted.
Stating that contemporary world stresses on animal instincts while ignoring the spiritual aspects of life, he observed that modern science and technology coupled with secularist attitudes have separated science and religion and alienated mankind from sacrosanct issues.
Commenting on the link between art and devout concepts, Avani further said that from the perspective of traditionalists, religious art is the holy art which underlies religious culture. The most certain way of conveying the basics of religion is art, he noted.
Noted scholars including Hadi Seif, Zahra Rabar-Nia, Ali Azizi and Mehdi Firouzan also delivered lectures on religious illustration at the event.
Monotheistic Religions Photos Biennial was organized with the aim of further introducing Iranian culture and civilization to the world and forging unity among monotheistic religions.

Annemarie Schimmel

German version of poems by Molana Jalaleddin Rumi, well-known Iranian poet and mystic, recited by the late German Iranologist Annemarie Schimmel was released on a compact disk by Haditeck Publishing House in that country.
According to MNA, the CD includes recordings of 20 poems, which were translated by Schimmel.
Recording the translation of selected poems by Molana was undertaken by the Iranian Cultural Office in Germany at a studio in Cologne.
Annemarie Schimmel (1922-2003) was a well known and very influential German Iranologist and scholar who wrote extensively on Islam and Sufism.
She received a doctorate in Islamic languages and civilization from the University of Berlin at the age of nineteen. At twenty-three, she became a professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at the University of Marburg (Germany) in 1946, where she earned a second doctorate in the history of religions in 1954.
Influenced by famous poets such as Molana and Noureddin Abdorrahman Jami, two well-known Iranian poets, her works greatly influenced the closeness of eastern and western cultures.
She served as a link between them and introduced the rich concepts of Islamic culture to the West. During her career she penned over 100 books.

While no Arab film was nominated for the Asian Film Awards, two works will represent Iran at the event to be held in Hong Kong on March 17.
According to ISNA, in the best films section, the film ’Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame’ by Hana Makhmalbaf will vie for the top award competing with five other films.
Directors of all the nominees in this section, except Makhmalbaf, are also in competition for the prize for the best directing.
The other representative of Iran is Houman Behmanesh who has been nominated for the best photography section for the film ’Those Three’.

Mah-e Mehr Gallery is displaying a collection of photos themed ’Moharram’ by a number of professional photographers in Tehran.
Moharram is the lunar month when the third Shiite Imam, Imam Hussein (AS) and 72 of his most loyal companions were martyred in the plains of Karbala, in present-day Iraq.
According to ISNA, artists participating in the event are Mahmoud Kelari, Seifollah Samadian, Jamshid Bayrami, Nader Davoudi, Jahangir Razmi, Farhad Soleimani, Mohsen Shanddiz and Mohammad Reza Sharifi-Nia.
The event features various views of the photographers about the event.
The exhibition will continue until February 7.