GOLHAÚ, BARNAÚMA-YE (lit. "Flowers Program"), a series of radio programs which was on the air for almost twenty-three years (Farvardin 1335-Esfand 1357 ˆ./March 1956 to February 1979) and which aimed at illustrating the perennial thematic and aesthetic relationships between poetry and traditional music (musiqi-e sonnati or asáil) in Persian culture and enhancing their appreciation by the general public. The program underwent considerable changes in style and management, and its long history can broadly be divided into three periods: 1956-67, when Da@wud Pirnia@ initiated and directed the program; 1967-73, with Moháammad Mirnaqibi as music director and Rahi Mo¿ayyeri as literary director (Pe‘ma@n Bakòtia@ri succeeded Rahi after his death); and 1973-78, when Huæang Ebteha@j as literary director and Fereydun ˆahba@zia@n as music director directed the program. The inclusion of the plural of the word gol (flower) in the title Golha@ was effectively redolent with the symbolism of perfection attributed to a judicious combination of Persian poetry and music which the programs sought to evoke. To achieve this aim, they combined music and poetry in a variety of patterns and combinations. They included declamations, recitals, and vocalizations of poetry; brief biographical accounts of Persian classical poets; and poetic commentaries accompanied by solo instruments, ensembles, or orchestral arrangements based on Persian traditional music.

An earlier radio program called the "Festival of Songs and Melodies" (Festiva@l-e a@hangha@ wa tasáa@nif, 1332 ˆ./1953) has been mentioned as a possible prototype for this broadcast (Behruzi, p. 431). However, the idea and practice of a radio program and its possible format with a mixed content of poetry and music can be traced to the private sessions held in the early 1950s at the homes of some of the leading members of the Anjoman-e Okòowwat (q.v.), including ¿Abd-Alla@h Entezáa@m (q.v.) and Da@wud Pirnia@ (1279-1350 ˆ. /1900-1971). The founder of the program, Pirnia@, served as its director for over a decade (1956-67). He was educated at the French École St. Louis in Tehran before studying law at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, but he was always passionately interested in Persian poetry and music and acquired a deep knowledge of both.

Pirnia@ was fully cognizant of the long history of shared aesthetic values and reciprocal relationships between literature and music in the long history of Persian culture and was further aware of the perceived mystical (¿erfa@ni) aspect of classical Persian lyric poetry (Nasáirifar, 1991, p. 27). By regular radio broadcasts of Barnama@-ye Golha@, Pirnia@ intended to preserve, to celebrate, and to disseminate these values and relationships. The availability of new recording technology enabled him to edit musical performances and improve upon previous live radio performances (Nasáirifar, 1998, II, p. 529). To achieve his goal, he drew on the expertise of some of the most famous mid-20th century master vocalists, instrumentalists, songwriters, and literary commentators in Persia. The musicians and the commentators, representing a variety of musical styles, and critics and poets belonging to differing schools of Persian poetics, brought to the program an artistic depth and expanse hitherto unknown.

Under the informed guidance of Pirnia@, the Golha@ programs were unique in featuring and appropriately dramatizing the long chain of antecedents of Persian poetry and music in a new, effective, and enduring way. The programs were subsequently known collectively under the generic title of Golha@, but they included six separate programs, each of which, save one, retained in its title the richly symbolic word gol: Golha@-ye ja@vida@n (Eternal Flowers), Golha@-ye ranga@rang (Flowers of Many Colors), Barg-e sabz (The Green Leaf), Yak æa@kòa gol (A Flowering Branch), Golha@-ye sáahra@÷i (Flowers of the Field), and Golha@-ye ta@za (Fresh Flowers).

1. Golha@-ye ja@vida@n. Among the programs celebrating the Persian New Year (Nowruz) in 1335 ˆ./1956 there appeared a new one, Golha@-ye ja@vida@n, deliberately combining poetry and music (Behruzi, p. 431). The first program was recorded by Asad-Alla@h Peyma@n in the studio of the Directorate General of Culture and Art (Eda@ra-ye koll-e honarha@-ye ziba@-ye keævar) with a clarinet performance by Moháammad ˆirkòoda@÷i, which became the signature tune of the program. Golha@-ye ja@vida@n was presented under the artistic direction of Da@wud Pirnia@, with the cooperation of the master seta@r player Ahámad ¿Eba@di (q.v.) and the vocalist and ta@r player ¿Abd-al-¿Ali Waziri (the seta@r being a traditional four-stringed instrument with a wooden sound-box and the ta@r a six-stringed lute with a skin-covered sound box played with a metal plectrum). The ten-minute program included a brief commentary on the celebrated 14th-century lyric poet H®a@fezá, a recitative of one of his g@azals beginning with the appropriate line, "Greetings to you, greetings fragrant as the scent of friendship" (sala@m-i ±o bu-ye kòúoæ-e a@æna@÷i. . .), and ¿Eba@di's lyrical solo performance. The second program featured master vocalist GÚola@m-Háosayn Bana@n who sang verses from the 13th-century mystical poet Rumi. They were well received by poets, musicians, intellectuals, and the general public and formed the basic model for other Golha@-ye j@a@vida@n programs that followed (Behruzi, p. 436).

The initial success of Golha@-ye ja@vida@n made it possible for its subsequent sessions to be longer (thirty to forty-five minutes) and its offerings more varied and extensive. They would consist essentially of four basic components: (1) an introductory melodic segment in the mode (dastga@h, q.v.) of Sega@h performed with qaraney by Moháammad ˆirkòoda@÷i; (2) a recitative of verses from a particular poem from Sa¿di's Golesta@n (q.v.), emphasizing the metaphorical and associative connections between poems and flowers and contrasting the eternal life granted poetry's flowers with the transient life of natural flowers: be±e ka@r a@yad-at ze gol táabaqi / az golesta@n-e man bebar waraq-i / gol hamin panj ruz o æaæ ba@æad / w'in golesta@n hamiæa kòúoæ ba@æad, imparting the idea that "the freshness of nature's flower is passing and mortal; take a leaf from my Golesta@n which shall remain fresh forever"; (3) commentaries on the life and works of a Persian classical poet such as Ha@fezá, Sa¿di, ¿Era@qi, ¿AttÂa@r, or Nezáa@mi, and Persian traditional instrumental and vocal music (Behruzi, p. 431); and (4) a conclusion of each session with the remark: "This was another flower from the unique flower-garden of Persian literature, an eternal flower" (in ham gol-i bud ja@vida@n az golza@r-e bihamta@-ye adab-e Ira@n—gol-i ka hargez namirad)." Although the production of this program was terminated after Pirnia@'s resignation in 1967, repeat broadcasts of its recorded sessions continued until halted by the February 1979 revolution.

Devoted to the propagation of classical Persian poetry and poetics to a wide audience, the recitatives and commentaries on poetry were important components of Golha-ye ja@vida@n. The proper declamatory style and poetic resonance were primary concerns of the recitatives. For many years, S®adiqa Rasuli, known as Rowæanak, became well known and appreciated for her vibrant poetry declamations on the program. Later, Firuza Amir-Mo¿ez, ˆamsi Fazµl-Alla@hi, AÚzòar Pa‘uheæ, Asad-Alla@h Peyma@n, Taqi Rowha@ni, and, from time to time, a singer fulfilled this function. The commentators included literary scholars, music theorists, and poets such as ¿Ali Daæti, Badi¿-al-Zama@n Foruza@nfar, Jala@l-al-Din Homa@÷i, Da@wud Pirnia@, LotÂf-¿Ali S®uratgar, Zia@÷-al-Din Sajja@di, and Ra@hi Mo¿ayyeri (Nawwa@b-e S®afa@, p. 584).

Among the masters of traditional instruments who contributed to the 157 Golha-ye ja@vida@n broadcasts and recordings were: the virtuoso ney (Persian flute) player H®asan Kasa@÷i; the violinists and composers Mahdi K¨a@ledi, ¿Ali Tajwidi, and Háosayn Ya@haqqi; the pianist and composer Mortazµa@ Mahájubi; the ta@r players LotÂf-Alla@h Majd and Jalil ˆahna@z; and master tombak (single-headed drum) players Na@sáer Efteta@há and Háosayn Tehra@ni. Acknowledged master vocalists of Persian traditional singing also participated, such as (in alphabetical order): the inimitable GÚola@m-Háosayn Bana@n; Jala@l Ta@j Esfaha@ni; Akbar Golpa@yaga@ni; Esma@¿il (Adib) Kúòa@nsa@ri; Mahámud Mahámudi K¨úa@nsari; and Háosayn Qawa@mi, known as Fa@kòta÷i. These vocalists all possessed lyrical and elegiac styles which well suited the longing, nostalgic, and often melancholy character of classical a@va@z (unmeasured singing part of a dastga@h) and Persian classical lyrics, and were all devoted to the ideal of safeguarding Persian traditional music in its genuine received form.

2. Golha-ye ranga@rang. This program was a natural outgrowth of Golha@-ye ja@vida@n. It closely followed Golha@-ye ja@vida@n's artistic rationale and aims. However, it replaced the emphasis of Golha@-ye ja@vida@n on instrumental solos with orchestral arrangements of compositions in modal traditional Persian music. The orchestral arrangements were written for traditional instruments (ta@r, santur, ney, kaman±a, tombak, etc.) as well as non-traditional musical instruments (violin, piano, cello, clarinet, etc.). The composer and music theorist Ruhá-Alla@h Kòa@leqi; the pianist and composer Jawa@d Ma¿rufi; and the master violinist, music theorist, and teacher Abu'l-Háasan Sáaba@ conducted Golha@-ye ranga@rang's orchestra. Among the thirty composers and songwriters, both past and contemporary, whose works were performed for 581 recordings and broadcasts of Golha@-ye ranga@rang were (in alphabetical order): Háabib-Alla@h Badi¿i, GÚola@m-Háosayn Darviæ, Mahámud D¨u'l-Fonun, Farha@d Fakòr-al-Dini, Mahdi K¨a@ledi, Ruhá-Alla@h K¨a@leqi, Homa@yun Kòorram, Mortazµa@ Mahájubi, Jaha@ngir Mora@d H®osa@m-al-SaltÂana, Mortazµa@ Ney-Da@wud, Fara@marz Pa@yvar, ¿AÚref Qazvini, Anuæirava@n Ruh@áa@ni, Abu'l-Háasan Sáaba@, ¿Ali-Akbar ˆeyda@, ¿Ali Tajwidi, ¿Ali-Naqi Waziri, and Parviz Ya@háaqqi (Behruzi, pp. 433, 438, 439).

In addition to the singers who had participated in Golha@-ye ja@vida@n by performing the a@va@z, other singers performed both the a@va@z and metered compositions (tasánif) for Golha@-ye ranga@rang. Notable among them were (in alphabetical order): ¿Abba@s ¿Afifi, Darviæ Amir-H®aya@ti, Eqba@l AÚzòar (Eqba@l-al-Solta@n), ¿Ahdiya Badi¿i, Sima@ Bina@, Vigen Derderia@n, Ela@ha (Baha@ra GÚola@m-Háosayni), Na@der Gol±in, Maleka Háekmat-æe¿a@r, Háosayn K¨úa@ja-amiri (Iraj), Marzµiya (Aæraf-al-Sa@da@t Mortazµa@÷ia@n), Na@sáer Mas¿udi, Parvin (Zahra@÷ Monfared), Pura@n (Farahá-dokòt ¿Abba@s-T®a@leqa@ni), ¿Ezzat Ruhábakòæ (Razµi), ¿Abd-al-Wahha@b ˆahidi, Moháammad-Rezµa@ ˆajaria@n (Sia@voæ), and Kuros Sarhangza@da.

Attracted by Golha@-ye ranga@rang, contemporary lyricists wrote songs for the program. Those who contributed included (in alphabetical order): Jamæid Arjomand, ¿Ali Aætari, Moháammad-Taqi Baha@r (Malek-al-ˆo¿ara@), Huæang Ebteha@j, Parviz Na@tel-Ka@nlari, Rahi Mo¿ayyeri, Manu±ehr Mo¿in-Afæa@r, Raháim Mo¿ini-Kermanæahi, ¿Ema@d K¨o@ra@sa@ni, Esma@¿il Nawwa@b-e Sáafa@, Moháammad-Háosayn ˆahria@r, Monira T®a@ha@, Bi‘an Taraqqi, Abu'l-Háasan Varzi, Kayumarsò Wot¯uqi, Baha@dor Yaga@na, and Zohra (Mansáura Ata@baki).

Later, Golha@-ye ranga@rang produced as its offshoots the following programs:

3. Barg-e sabz. This program offered 312 broadcasts and their recordings, each consisting of a poetry recital accompanied by music and followed by an a@va@z section in one of the seven traditional modes but without a tasánif (Behruzi, pp. 438, 432).

4. Yak æa@ka-ye gol. This program produced 465 broadcasts and their recordings. A biographical sketch of a poet accompanied by music and followed by a song without an a@va@z section constituted each program (Behruzi, pp. 438, 432).

5. Golha@-ye sáahára@÷i. This program offered 62 programs of regional and folk songs (Behruzi, pp. 438, 432). The program debuted with the young singer Sima@ Bina@. Born in Birjand in Khorasan province, she sang the regional music of her native region. In time, other folk-singers, such as Na@sáer Mas¿udi, who sang songs from Gila@n in the Gilaki language, followed her.

6. Golha@-ye ta@za. This program was initiated under Ebtehaj as literary director and Fereydun ˆahba@zia@n as music director and offered, between 1973 and 1978, some 201 poetry recitals and a@va@z sections, mostly without a measured song (Behruzi, pp. 432, 438,).

THE INFLUENCE OF THE GOLHAÚ PROGRAMS

The Golha@ programs exerted a tremendous influence in Persia and, to some extent, also in other Persian-speaking countries. First, they popularized Persian classical poetry and made a vogue of it, particularly among the middle class and the affluent social elite. They boosted appreciation of Persian poetry at a popular level to a degree never before achieved. Second, they brought masters of traditional music to public notice and bestowed on them the dignity that they deserved as artists. This should be seen against the background of earlier times, when musical performers were considered mere "entertainers" with a lowly rank in the social hierarchy (they were referred to as motárebs, often with a pejorative connotation). The Golha@ programs not only made most of them household names, but also provided them with a fairly secure basis of income through remuneration or regular appointment. Third, they drew wide attention to and popularized the traditional corpus (radif) of Persian music. Fourth, they introduced variations in the hitherto somewhat rigid arrangement of the different sections of musical performances. A convention had been established according to which a full performance of a dastga@h would begin with an instrumental introductory section (piæ-dara@mad), which would briefly go through the major guæas (melodic types) of a given mode. It would be followed by the a@va@z, that is, the unmeasured vocal part, accompanied by a solo instrument, using a g@azal for its lyrics. It normally began with the first guæa of the mode (dara@mad, lit. "entrance") and would go through different guæas, reaching an emotional pitch and ending with a descending guæa (forud). The solo instrumentalist would occasionally introduce a virtuoso four-beat section called ±ahar mezµra@b in between guæas. The a@va@z would be followed by a measured song (tasánif), and the performance would end by a fast tempo piece (reng), normally of a joyous mood, suitable for dancing. The Golha@ programs often broke with this arrangement by introducing declamatory sections, alternating a@va@z with tasánif, omitting some sections altogether while lengthening or abbreviating others, etc. Thus musical performances became more varied and more flexible in arrangements and broke free of their rigid conventional frame. The Golha@ programs also popularized local folkloric music, many themes of which were used as compositional elements for orchestra. An indirect influence of the Golha@ programs was the encouragement they afforded many people to learn to play musical instruments, now that the profession's stigma had been removed. More importantly, the programs revived and revitalized the long-standing fusion of Persian poetry and music. Earlier attempts by F orsáat-al-Dawla of Shiraz (q.v.; see also BOH®UÚR AL-ALH®AÚN) and Mokòber-al-SaltÂana Heda@yat (see his Majma¿ al-adwa@r) had been of limited effect. The affinity between Persian poetry and music can be traced back to the most ancient times. We find the oldest example in the very hymns of Zoroaster, the Gathas. In Sasanian times, poetry and music were so intertwined that apparently poetry was composed only within a musical framework (Baha@r; Christensen; and Yarshater, pp. 62-63, who speaks of the "marriage" of Persian music and poetry in the Sasanian period and describes them as "Siamese twins"; cf. Ta@rikò-e Sista@n, p. 210; ˆams-e Qays, p. 166). The tradition continued in Islamic times, and it has been argued that the Persian g@azal was essentially meant to be sung and that this explained a number of the features of the g@azal such as varied themes in a single g@azal and their apparent incoherence (Lewis, pp. 89-95).

Bibliography: This article is based in part on interviews with a number of the poets and musicians involved in the production of the Golha@ programs.

Published sources. Mortazµa@ ¿Abd-al-Rasuli, "Da@wud Pirnia@," Raha@vard 5/18-19, 1988, pp. 286-92. Moháammad-Taqi Baha@r, "ˆe¿r dar Ira@n," Majalla-ye tufa@n, 1928; repr. in M. Golbon, Baha@r wa adabiya@t-e fa@rs^, Tehran, 1972, pp. 29-35. ˆa@pur Behruzi, Ùehraha@-ye musiqi-e Ira@n, 2 vols., Tehran, 1993. Nelly Caron and Dariouche Safvat, Musique d'Iran, Paris, 1977, p. 214. ¿Abba@s Eqba@l, "Musiqi-e qadim-e Ira@n," in idem, ed., ˆe¿r wa musiqi dar Ira@n, Tehran, 1987, pp. 11-12, 70-71, 73, 131-32. Samira Ebra@himi, Delæodega@n: tara@naha@, sorudha@, wa tasánifha@-ye melli, Tehran, 2000, p. 9. Franklin Lewis, "Reading, Writing, and Recitation: Sana@÷i and the Origins of the Persian Ghazal," Ph.D. diss., 3 vols., University of Chicago, 1995. Iraj Maleki, "Va@bastagi-e æe¿r wa musiqi," in ˆe¿r wa musiqi dar Ira@n, Tehran, 1987, pp. 125, 130. Háosayn-¿Ali Malla@há, Peyvand-e musiqi wa æe¿r, Tehran, 1988, p. 94, 98-101. H®abib-Alla@h Nasáirifar, Mahdi Kòa@ledi, Tehran, 1991, pp. 22, 27. Idem, Golba@ng-e Golha@: æe¿r wa musiqi, 2 vols., Tehran, 1998, p. 529. Da@wud Pirnia@, radio interview in April 1965, cited in Nasáirifar, I, pp. 54-60 and ¿Abd-al-Rasuli, pp. 289-92. ¿Ali-Moháammad Raæidi, "Tara@na-sara@yi dar Ira@n," in Keta@b-e ma@hur: majmu¿a-ye maqa@la@t-e musiqi I, Tehran, 1991, p. 35. Esma@¿il Nawwa@b-e S®afa@, K¨a@tÂera@t-e honari, Tehran, 1998. Háasan ˆahba@z, "Bedrud ba@ maæa@hiri ke raftand," Raha@vard 5/18-19, 1988, pp. 284-86. ˆams-al-Din Moháammad b. Qays R@a@zi, al-Mo¿jam fi ma¿a@yir-e aæ¿a@r al-¿ajam, ed. Moháammad-Taqi Modarres-Razµawi, Tehran, 1957. Sa@sa@n Sepanta@, Ùaæmanda@z-e musiqi-e Iran, Tehran, 1989, p. 233. Ahámad Tafazµzµoli, Ta@rikò-e adabiya@t piæ az Esla@m, Tehran, 1997. Ehsan Yarshater, "Affinities between Persian Poetry and Music," in Peter Chelkowski, ed., Studies in Art and Literature of the Near East, Salt Lake City and New York, 1974, pp. 59-78.

(Daryush Pirnia with Erik Nakjavani)