My master's thesis "Interweaving Cultures" is nominated for the 13th edition of the Ahk Eindwerkprijs.
"Interweaving Cultures" is a study on intercultural engagements in music, with an emphasis on Persian classical and folk music. The primary focus of this research is the process, techniques, and aesthetics of music creation inspired by cultural interactions. In this study, I aimed to investigate the emergence of intercultural music compositions influenced by the folk music of Iran and the dastgâh/maqâm system.
In addition to the research, I composed a music piece for four-hand piano and two percussion
instruments, titled Soorbâng. This piece was inspired by a Persian traditional dance and folk music called Hatan-e Oshâri, which originates from Torbat-e Jâm, a city located in eastern Khorâsân, Iran. The composition was my attempt to apply the techniques and aesthetic considerations discussed in the research, and to propose one possible solution, among many, to the challenges of writing intercultural music. This nomination will be the second time I have been recognized for this award at the Amsterdam University of the Arts. Visit the Ahk Eindwerkprijs website for more details about my nomination and other nominees.
Jury Report
"Interweaving Cultures" by Ramin Amin Tafreshi:
Ramin’s thesis is a thorough piece of research. In addition, he wrote a high-quality composition, which he presented in an unusual way. Ramin has a unique way of thinking about what is needed to put his music in the spotlight. He connects two worlds with each other: the world where his family comes from and his current Western environment, and he’s trying to develop a new language for that. In doing so, he is taking the road less travelled. He seeks to connect with Western traditions and tries to interweave them with other cultures, so that they can find common ground in the music. The jury was impressed by his approach."
