Marzieh, Morteza Mahjubi and Adib Khwansari at Radio Studio, Tehran.

Seated (right to left): Ahmad Ebrāhimi, Bizhān Taraqqi, Hosayn Tehrāni, Parviz Yāhaqqi. Second row: Solaymān Amir-Qāsemi, Farhang Sharif, Zabih Malekpur, Mortazā Mahjubi, Ebrāhim Sahbā, Sādeq Sarmad. Above Mortazā Mahjubi: Nabizādeh (Toyuri).

The Golhā (’Flowers of Persian Song and Music’) comprise 1400 radio programs consisting of approximately 886 hours of programs broadcast over a period of 23 years - from 1956 through 1979.1 These programs are made up of literary commentary with the declamation of poetry, which is sung with musical accompaniment, interspersed with solo musical pieces. For the 23 years that these programs were broadcast, all the most eminent literary critics, famous radio announcers, singers, composers and musicians in Iran were invited to participate in them. The programs were not only exemplars of excellence in the sphere of music but highly ornate and refined examples of literary expression, making use of a repertoire of over two hundred classical and modern Persian poets, thus setting literary and musical standards that are still looked up to with admiration in Iran today and referred to as an encyclopedia of Persian music and poetry.

Read full paper Flowers of Persian Song and Music: Davud Pirniā and the Genesis of the Golhā Programs [pdf]

Visit Radio Golha online

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Download (my favourite) Barg-e Sabz CD featuring:

Barge Sabz 28 (tracks 1, 2, 3)
Khanandeh: Farah
Navazandegan: Parviz Yahaghi, Jalil Shahnaz, Salim Farzan, Naser Eftetah, Jahangir Malek
Ashaar: Ataar, Molavi, Eraghi
Dastgah: Segah
Gooyandeh: Roshanak

Barge Sabz 63 (tracks 4, 5, 6)
Khanandeh: Banan
Navazandegan: Habiballah Badiei, Jalil Shahnaz, Naser Eftetah
Ashaar: Ataar, Hafez, Eraghi
Dastgah: Avaze Bayat Esfahan
Gooyandeh: Roshanak

Barge Sabz 19 (tracks 7, 8 )
Khanandeh: Taaj Esfahani
Navazandegan: Jalil Shahnaz, Hasan Kasaei, Naser Eftetah
Ashaar: Ataar, Eraghi, Hafez
Dastgah: Segah