Remembering Mohammad Reza Shajarian

He shares the first and middle name of the famous Iranian king, but Shajarian is a king in a different domain: Persian art music. To an older generation of Iranians, Shajarian's music is synonymous with the time around the 1979 Revolution. As a de-facto ambassador of Iranian music, Shajarian has been referred to as the "Greatest living maestro of Persian classical music" by the L.A. Times. While Shajarian remained a steady voice to the Iranian people, his stance on political issues shifted more progressive with time, and he came to use his role as a singer to inspire change in Iran.

Shajarian was born in 1940 in Mashad, Iran. His father was a qari, whose profession was to recite the Qur'an. Shajarian began studying Persian art music at age 12. It is known as the Radif and is a collection of melodies that have been passed down orally through generations. He continued his studies despite his father's dissapproval. As a religious man, his father considered playing music against his beliefs. It is for this reason, some historians speculate, that Shajarian briefly took on the stage name Siavash Bidkani.

Shajarian rose to popularity in the 1960s due to his unique singing style. He frequently performed on the radio and on television. Following the Revolution, Shajarian was one of the few still able to perform, however he faced harsh censorship. During the 2009 Green Movement, Shajarian showed support for anti-regime protesters.

The great singer passed away in 2020. In addition to his singing, Shajarian was also a teacher ("Ostad") and calligraphy connoisseur. A clip leaked from a documentary about him leaves an honorable sentiment that truly encapsulates his spirit: "My voice is part of Iran's ancient culture, to remind the people of the world that we have had a culture of love, peace and friendship."