About this Release
“Music, for me, is a way of life. It shapes my mind and emotions. So, it’s very natural, when I want to express myself, I will do it through music. I was, from childhood, moved by the stories of those early believers of the Bahá’i faith and the stories of The Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. So, it was very natural for me to start composing and to narrate their stories through music as a contribution from my side and a tribute to the sacrifices that they made. I tried to the best of my abilities to bring the listener closer to the moments that touched my life. I hope you enjoy this recording.” — Afshin Jaberi
JABERI, AFSHIN (b. 1973)
Ballades Nos. 4–9, ‘The Eroica’
- Afshin Jaberi, piano
This album completes Afshin Jaberi’s powerful cycle of Ballades (Nos. 1–3, with Sonatas Nos. 1–3 are on GP694). The nine pieces together take the title The Eroica and offer a stylistic synthesis of Eastern melody and Western classical harmonic and structural traditions. Strongly influenced by the Iranian composer’s Bahá’í faith, the Ballades’ narratives are focused on tracing the early years of one of the world’s youngest religions, one dedicated to peaceful unity and the betterment of humanity.
This recording was made on a modern instrument: Steinway, Model D
Tracklist
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1
Ballade No. 4, "The Black Pit" (1994) * (00:08:18)
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2
Ballade No. 5, "Abode of Peace" (1995) * (00:09:36)
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3
Ballade No. 6, "Exile to Ottoman Empire" (1995) * (00:09:17)
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4
Ballade No. 7, "The Most Great Prison" (1997) * (00:09:33)
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5
Ballade No. 8, "The Ascension" (2005) * (00:11:10)
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6
Ballade No. 9, "Center of the Covenant" (2011) * (00:09:35)
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The Artist(s)
Afshin Jaberi was born in 1973 into an Iranian family residing in Qatar. Unable to receive formal musical instruction there, he began to develop his interest in the subject by himself. His musical education began properly in 1991 in Hungary, where he attended the Franz Liszt Academy of Music and received his bachelor’s degree in music education. His rapid progress attracted the attention of his teachers and, after two and a half years as a part-time student, he was readily accepted into the academy for full-time study. Besides the distinct progress he made in piano performance, his compositions also attracted attention, especially his First Ballade, written at the age of eighteen; another eight were to follow. His compositions are influenced by the spirit of his faith, from which the acts of heroism and sacrifice of the central figures are reflected in his Ballades. This background has enabled him to bring together the sounds of East and West in his compositions. The Composer(s)
Afshin Jaberi was born in 1973 into an Iranian family residing in Qatar. Unable to receive formal musical instruction there, he began to develop his interest in the subject by himself. His musical education began properly in 1991 in Hungary, where he attended the Franz Liszt Academy of Music and received his bachelor’s degree in music education. His rapid progress attracted the attention of his teachers and, after two and a half years as a part-time student, he was readily accepted into the academy for full-time study. Besides the distinct progress he made in piano performance, his compositions also attracted attention, especially his First Ballade, written at the age of eighteen; another eight were to follow. His compositions are influenced by the spirit of his faith, from which the acts of heroism and sacrifice of the central figures are reflected in his Ballades. This background has enabled him to bring together the sounds of East and West in his compositions. Also Available
Grand Piano has gained a reputation for producing high quality recordings of rare keyboard gems. Dedicated to the exploration of undiscovered piano repertoire, the label specialises in complete cycles of piano works by many lesser-known composers, whose output might otherwise have remained unknown and unrecorded.
- info@grandpianorecords.com
