I WISH I WERE WATER

by Mirsaeed Hosseiny Panah

Njål Sparbo vocal (bass)
Amalie Kongssund vocal (soprano)
Marika Schutze vocal (mezzo soprano)
Dimitris Spouras conductor
Tora Røstvik flute
Gracia Ortega Navarro clarinet
Espen Nystog Aas bass clarinet
Jonathan Sandqvist bassoon
Mari Birgitte Bølgen Halvorsen violin 1
Kaja Pernille Østervold violin 2
Christopher Rossebø viola
Marek Bienkunski cello
Mirsaeed Hosseiny Panah – chromatic santoor, composer

LOSEN RECORDS - LOS 280-2
EAN: 7090025832802

Ahmad Shamlou (1925-2000) is one of the most outstanding Iranian poets in the field of contemporary Persian poetry. Before him, it was Nima Yooshij (1895-1960) who transformed classical Iranian poetry into a modern style called "new poetry"/"she'r-e no". Influenced by Nima, Ahmad Shamlou went further and created the distinguished style of "white poetry"/"she'r-e sepid", which he introduced to the world. Each of his poems has a unique form and structure that contrasts with all previous traditional styles that rely on their rigid structures.
Inspired by Shamlou, Mr. Panah tries to loosen the rigid structure of classical Iranian music and give it some freedom. In this album, he simply observes and follows the form that each lyric suggests; and then interprets it through musical expressions that brings out the hidden form of the poem. Along the way, he uses his interpretation of the knowledge and techniques he has taken from Western classical music and jazz.

I WISH I WERE WATER

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