In Memory Of Violin Maestro Malek

Learning and teaching violin required patience, practice and hard work.

His students all loved him, and used to learn lessons of life prior to the lessons of music from him.

Violin enjoys a good status in the world, and though it comes from west, it has had great impression on Iranian music, and found its place among Iranian world of music almost 200 years ago.

Learning and teaching violin has its own difficulties. That is why Iranian violinist Parviz Yahaqi has called it “Untamable Savage.”

Abolhassan Saba, Reza Mahjubi, Hossein Yahaqi, Parviz Yahaqi, Habibollah Badi’i, Majid Vafadar, Homayun Khorram, Ali Tajvidi, and Shapur Niyakan are among the eminent Iranian figures within the past century.

Asadollah Malek has also had an undeniable impression on Iranian music and its development. Malek was born on August 7, 1941 in Tehran. He began to play violin in his childhood learning from his brother Hossein. He later learnt music with Abolhassan Saba. He showed his high talent at an early age and at the age of 17, he performed the everlasting piece “Cry of Leili” as the young soloist for radio.

He studied music at the National Academy of Music with masters Saba, Ruhollah Khaleqi, and Ali-Mohammad Khadem Misaq. He later continued his studies at University of Fine Arts, and later he taught at the National Academy of Music after the death of Saba.

Malek’s first piece was “Heart’s Narration,” with a poem by Bijan Taraqi, being remembered as an eternal piece.

He also cooperated with different orchestras, working with prominent singers Hossein Qavami, Mahmud Khansari, Mohammadreza Shajarian, and Kuros Sarhangzadeh.

As the lone violinist, he used to work with pop orchestra “Marsel Estepanian,” and his violin bow was always remembered as “Magic Bow” by members of the orchestra.

Attending several music festivals, he received the top award at Venice Festival. Experts are also convinced that his many programs of “Melodies of National Music” are known as one of the best radio programs.

He worked as head of “Hamnavazan Orchestra” till the end of his life. His book “Teaching Iranian Violin,” as well as his cassettes “Golnush,” “Sunset in Mountain,” “Heart of Lover,” are among his works available at the market.

About Malek, his wife Azam Malek says, “I can say Malek was the treasure of music history who composed many pieces.”

Malek passed way on January 28, 2001.

RM/IS

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MNA