Dastgāh-e Čahārgāh
About this Dastgāh
Dastgāh-e Čahārgāh is one of the most characteristic modes of Iranian classical music. Compared to the Šur and Segāh, which are ideal for gentle and sorrowful music styles, Dastgāh-e Čahārgāh is described as having vitality and strength and is considered suitable for epic music. This version of Čahārgāh has G as the first scale degree.
Some hints:
The Sequence tab below contains an annotated example of this Dastgāh. The second degree/tone of the scale (A koronA koron is an accidental that lowers the pitch by a quarter-tone. The koron was designed by Ali-Naqi Vaziri (1886-1979).Visit the link to learn more in this case) is the aqaz("beginning") The pitch with which a Dastgah, Avaz or Gusheh is usually initiated. In some Dastgah, it is different from the Foroud, while in others they are the same pitch.Visit the link to learn more, and usually the starting point of the improvisation. The fourth degree/tone of the scale (C in this case) is the finalisThe finalis or foroud is a pitch that functions as a melodic cadence's goal or destination tone and creates a sense of conclusion. The term "tonic" is also sometimes used, but some authors avoid using it because it is associated with Western music theory.Visit the link to learn more. The dotted line shows the area of melodic motion.
Learning more
Here are some resources to learn more about this tuning.
- Mohammad-Reza Shajarian Dastan (musical example)
- Alizadeh, H. (2012). Theoretical foundations and structure of Persian classical music. (H. Asadi, M. Oftade, M. Bayani, A. Pourtorab, & S. Fatemi, Eds.). Ministry of Education. (in Farsi)
- Farhat, H. (2004). The Dastgāh Concept in Persian Music. Cambridge University Press.
- Khaleqi, R. (1938). A Glance at the Theory of (Persian) Music. Safi Ali-Shah Publication (in Farsi)
- Samimi Mofakham, I. (2023a). A Rational Intonation Approach to Persian Music. Živá Hudba/Living Music, 14. Prague: NAMU.
- Samimi Mofakham, I. (2023). Holographic composition technique: Revisiting the medieval treatises on Iranian music (p. 140) [Ph.D. Dissertations / Research Exposition].