Song No 32: Private Performance
(At the age of 81)
The last legacy of Djenāb Damāvandi’s voice is from a private gathering in 1953, attended by prominent artists of the time such as Seyed Hossein Tāherzādeh, Abolhasan Sabā, Hossein Ghavāmi, Soleymān Amir Ghāsemi, Nour-Ali Khān Boroumand, and Gholāmrezā Morshed Varzandeh. This recording, made on an aluminum disc, was unique due to its larger recording capacity compared to previous discs. This particular disc is the longest surviving piece of Djenāb Damāvandi’s vocal works .The applause of the attendees at the peak of the singer’s performance is one of the interesting features of this work. During this gathering, Djenāb Damāvandi chose a famous poem by Rumi to create a beautiful piece in the Bayāt-e-Tork mode, accompanied by Rezā Khān Varzandeh on the Santour and Nour Ali Khān Boroumand on the Setār. It is worth mentioning that during this gathering, Seyed Hossein Tāherzādeh also sang, and his voice was recorded on another side of this disc, serving as a testament to the deep friendship between these two prominent artists.
Private Performance Lyrics
(Bayāt-e Tork)
If the eye sleeps, the whole world’s eyes sleep,
Do not assume, do not assume
Although I am drunk, I am the most alert of all
If you see the eye asleep, do not be astonished,
O heart, do not assume
If you see the eye asleep, do not be astonished, O heart
Although I am asleep, I am the most awake of all
I became distressed in every gathering
I joined the unlucky and the happy ones
Each one, according to their own thoughts
Became my companion
But no one sought my secrets from within
Djenab Damavandi (Mohammad Falahi)
Singer
Rezā Khān Varzandeh
Santour Player
Nour Ali Khān Boroumand
Setār Player
Other Suggested Gramophone Record
