“Many world countries still use reed or similar wind instruments. This is one of the oldest musical instruments man has ever played,” said Nahid who will be performing at the First International Reed Festival slated for September 12 until September 16 in Tehran.
He believes holding such festivals is a positive step toward establishing closer cultural relations among the artists and reed performers in addition to introducing various types of reeds played in different countries.
Nahid said it is only the Iranian reed which is shaped out of the trunk of a reed locally called knotgrass reed. Other participating countries use wooden reeds and bagpipes.
The techniques of reed playing are also different. Iranians hold it between the two front teeth to sound like labiodental speech, while Japanese blow right into the reed vertically. Gathering all these reeds together is an ideal opportunity that cannot be observed easily for years, Nahid said.
Distinguishing the shepherd reed from the reed played in various regions throughout Iran, Nahid said the reed used in orchestra was made 200 years ago in Isfahan and played in “Isfahan School”. This reed is not very old and not known in many parts of Iran. I became familiar with this kind of reed 50 years ago and it would be interesting to play shepherd reed in this festival.”
AP/MA
MNA
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