The music of Ostad Elahi is rooted in a tradition that has remained hidden over the centuries. It is a special, authentic music quite distinct from anything to which we are we accustomed. Until not long ago, this music was played only in small gatherings convened for prayer and contemplation. Ostad Elahi himself never performed in public, and always played for the sake of contemplation, whether alone or in a small circle of family and friends. The pieces that have remained are mostly from the latter part of his life and were recorded with home equipment. These recordings comprise some forty hours on tape, a portion of which has thus far been digitized and published. His music had a profound impact on all those who heard it, including many reputable and renowned musicians. See Testimonials.

The Tanbour

"The cries of the tanbour and instruments as such
     Celestial sounds they echo as much

Dry string, dry wood, dry integument
     Whence is this sound that resonates from the Friend?

If the soul's ear is awakened, secrets can be heard from these instruments that are hidden to those who seek only this world." (Words of Truth)

The tanbour is an ancient instrument that has assumed various shapes and sounds over the centuries in different regions. The simple sonority of this instrument, alternating between dry and soft, has something immaterial, abstract, and even ascetic about it that renders it suitable for spiritual music. In Iran, the tanbour was among the instruments that were played in the Sassanid court. Later, certain Kurdish religious groups adopted it as a sacred instrument and have been using it ever since to accompany their sacred hymns and ceremonial dances.

The Musical of Ostad Elahi

Ostad Elahi learned the tanbour as a child. Amid his surroundings and within his family in particular, it was a longstanding tradition for the tanbour to accompany spiritual hymns. With his exceptional aptitude, he had memorized during his childhood the whole repertoire of these melodies as well as those from the surrounding regions. Later, he expanded the technical possibilities and range of this instrument by adding a third string to the two existing strings, while also innovating new playing techniques, the most important of which was the use of all five fingers of the right hand. This fluid motion of the fingers of the right hand culminated in a technique called shor that has been widely adopted by players today.

There are two things on which I spared no effort: playing tanbour and spiritual practice. (Words of Truth)

Ostad Elahi's other significant contribution to elevating the art of the tanbour was assembling a repertoire of over a hundred short and long pieces for the instrument. Due to the richness of its content, musical structure, and ornamentation, this collection is incomparable to the simple airs and modes that comprise its core. Ostad Elahi utilized the basic foundations of this old and limited repertoire as a platform for building his own outstanding improvisations and compositions.

These innovations revived and elevated an ancient musical tradition, such that the tanbour today occupies its own special place among the other instruments. It would not be an exaggeration to consider Ostad Elahi as the true savior of this art, for it was through his efforts that an age-old musical tradition neglected for centuries was transformed into a learned music.

Music and Spirituality

Ostad Elahi considered music as an essentially spiritual phenomenon and a tool for establishing a connection between the soul and the Source.

One should not limit music to a purely esthetic use nor solely take into account its technical aspects; rather, one should seek to hear those true sounds of music. Music should be considered as a means for establishing a spiritual connection, not as a goal in itself. (Words of Truth)

Although music does possess technical and esthetic dimensions that can be accessed through hard work and perseverance, it also has a spiritual dimension from which its profound effect originates. According to Ostad Elahi, among the elements of music that impact the soul is the personality of the artist, who naturally strives to master the technical aspects and execution of the music. At the same time, however, the artist should also try to assimilate the music to the point that he is not constrained by it and can freely hear and transmit the "true sounds of music."

If [music is] played in its original spiritual state, a connection will be realized with the Source." (Words of Truth)

For more information, see Professor Jean During's lecture on The Music of Ostad Elahi.