An ode to the city of Shiraz in southern Iran, many of Behzad Ranjbaran's melodic, rhythmic, and musical characters are inspired by Persian culture and its vocal and instrumental music. Movement one, "The Weeping Willow", was influenced by the composer's vision of three poets in a gentle but heated poetic discourse, with a musical phrase beginning with one instrument and then circulated and repeated in a refined exchange. The second movement refers to a river in Shiraz often cited in Iranian poetry. The composer elaborates: "As the opening [of the second movement] descends into the whispering murmur of water waves, it soon builds to climactic crashing chords, all pointing to the vitality of life represented by the river. There is also allusion to the playful character of folk music with irregular rhythmic patterns, repeated short melodies, and jesting pizzicato sections..propelling the piece to an energetic conclusion."

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BEHZAD RANJBARAN
Born in Tehran, Iran, Behzad Ranjbaran frequently draws inspiration from his Persian heritage. Shiraz is one of several works in his catalogue that draw directly on this background, inspired by place, literature, art, or the sounds of traditional instruments. Among the Persian-influenced chamber works are Isfahan (clarinet, harp, and string quintet), Fountains of Fin (flute, violin, cello), and Piano Quintet which evokes a Persian wedding in the final movement. His
orchestral works include the so-called “Persian Trilogy” (Seven Passages, Seemorgh, and The Blood of Seyavash), based on legends from the ancient epic poem, “Shahnameh” (Book of Kings). The Trilogy was recorded for Delos by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by JoAnn Falletta; it received its first complete live performance in 2008 by the Toronto Symphony under Ms. Falletta, in a multimedia concert celebrating the millennium of “Shahnameh.”

Mr. Ranjbaran has written works for Renée Fleming, Joshua Bell, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet, among others, and has had residencies with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Saratoga Music Festival, and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Jean-Yves Thibaudet premiered his piano concerto, commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony and conducted by Robert Spano. Songs of Eternity on the Ruba’iyat of Omar Khayyam, written for soprano Renée Fleming, was premiered with the Seattle Symphony under the direction of Gerard Schwarz. Joshua Bell was the soloist in the premiere performances of the Violin Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, also conducted by Schwarz. Mr. Bell went on to give the work’s North American premiere with the Indianapolis Symphony, conducted by Mario Venzago, and subsequent performances with Peter Oundjian and the Toronto Symphony. In addition, Chantal Juillet was the soloist in a performance of the Violin Concerto with Charles Dutoit and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Named a “Distinguished Artist” by the New Jersey Council on the Arts, Ranjbaran’s honors also include grants from National Endowment for the Arts and Meet the Composer, and a Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters; his Violin Concerto was awarded the Rudolf Nissim from ASCAP.

Ranjbaran’s musical education started early when he entered the Tehran Music Conservatory at the age of nine. After arriving in United States in 1974, he attended Indiana University and received his
doctorate in composition from The Juilliard School, where he currently serves on the faculty. For further information, please visit www.behzadranjbaran.com.

I. The Weeping Willow
II. The Rokni River