AFSHIN JABERI (b. 1973)
BALLADES NOS. 4–9 ‘THE EROICA’
‘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
About this Recording
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.
TOTAL TIME: 58:22
Ballade No. 9, 'Centre of the Covenant'
About the Artist
Afshin Jaberi (b. 1973) is an Iranian pianist and composer, who was born in the Kingdom of Bahrain and brought up in Qatar. Although he demonstrated a facility for both performance and composition as a child, he did not receive any formal musical training until 1991, when he undertook studies first in Debrecen in Hungary, and later in Kazakhstan. His rapid progress and pianistic study, particularly of 19th century piano works, led to a series of extended compositions for the instrument, beginning with his First Ballade in 1991.
AFSHIN JABERI’S PREVIOUS RECORDING
– American Record Guide
– The WholeNote
RECOMMENDED TITLES ON GRAND PIANO OVERTONE
– Gapplegate Classical-Modern
– Records International
