Maryam Akhondy & Banu
All-female a-capella group from Iran
In countries like Iran the public appearance of female singers is characterized by largest difficulties. Only for religious rituals, called Tazieh, it is allowed to make and to listen to music. For men it is forbidden to listen to the singing of women. Therefore singing is possible only in private sphere, where women are alone or among themselves: at the cradle, at the housework and work in the fields or on women's celebrations. Maryam Akhondy made it her business to bring traditional women’s songs back to life again. Over years she has been collecting songs. With these songs she wants to give a voice to the Persian women, who were not present with there songs on the stages of the concert-halls and music-festivals until now.
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Banu (Persian word for noble lady or distinguished lady) is a kind of musical expedition to the different regions and cultures of Iran. It gives an informative view of the singing culture and self-confidence of the Persian women. Most of these songs are full of live and energy, being accompanied by various percussion-instruments. This is quite unusual for Iranian music which is often more serene and melancholic. But these old folk-songs are funny, ironic and give a view on the Iranian woman when she is in private.
Maryam Akhondy & Ensemble Barbad
Classical music from Iran
Besides leading the chorus Maryam Akhondy works since many years as a classical singer with her Ensemble Barbad and her 3 or 5 musicians. They all are classical trained artists. Barbad has been touring all over Europe for the past years.
Maryam Akhondy and Ensemble Barbad’s newest project is called “Sarmast”, which means “intoxicated” – intoxicated from the beautiful lyrics of the greatest Iranian poets (such as Hafez and others). These lyrics have always fascinated Maryam and inspired her to write beautiful songs. So this Sarmast-project are all her own compositions, in the manner of classical Persian art-music.
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