The Safavids - Epic Music

Music by Farya Faraji, including improvisations by Soheil Saadat and Nayan Sahihi. Duduk by @AliFarbodnia setar and tar by Siavosh Karami, tanboor by Soheil Saadat, vocals by Ali Reza Berenjan and Farya Faraji, and kamanche by Nayan Sahihi.

Please note that this isn't reconstructed era music, this is modern Iranian and Azerbaijani music with a historical theme.

I wanted to delve into the rich subject of the Safavid dynasty which is commonly seen as the beginning of modern Iranian history, and whose lasting effects include the conversion of Iran to a Shiite Muslim country, and its consolidation as one of the major gunpowder-based powers in the region. The Safavids were a Turkic speaking dynasty whose dialect was an early form of the modern Azerbaijani language. They came to power in 16th century Iran under the rule of Shah Ismail I.

Ismail I was a renowned poet under the pen name of Khatayi. As the leader of the Qizilbash, a faction of Shiite, Turkic Sufi militant group, he took power in Iran, and solidified it as the eastern, Shiite adversary of the Sunni Ottoman empire for centuries to come.

The music is primarily based in the common, shared musical heritage of Iranian and Azerbaijani musical forms, with the tar and kamanche being central in both traditions. An Iranian setar and tanbour also accompany the piece, as well as a duduk, an instrument called the mey by Azerbaijanis, and commonly played both in Azerbaijan as well by the Azeris of Iran. A Sufi aesthetic also shapes the central component of the music's rhythm, with the rythmic breaths being typical of Zikr: Sufi musical gatherings were rhythm is used to induce the mystics into a trance believed to bring them closer to the divine. The kurdish tanboor adds to the mystical, Sufi aesthetic of the song, being closely associated with Kurdish Sufis.

The main melody is in the mode of Isfahan, equivalent to the Western harmonic minor, with the kamanche improv in the middle by Nayan Sahihi being in Segah.

The lyrics are in the Azerbaijani and Persian languages.

Azerbaijani lyrics:
Allah Allah din gaziler
Gaziler deyin şah menem
Karşu gelün secde kılun
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Uçmakta tuti kuşuyam
Ağır leşker er başıyam
Men sufiler yoldaşıyam
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Ne yerd'ekersen biterim
Handa çağırsan yeterim
Sufiler elin dutarım
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Mansur ile darda idim
Halil ile narda idim
Musa ile Tur'da idim
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Tahkıyk ile şahı tanun
Nevruz edin şaha yetün
Hey gaziler secde kılun
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Kırmızı taclu boz atlu
Ağır leşkeri nisbetlü
Yusuf Peygamber sıfatlu
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Hatai'yem al atluyam
Sözü şekerden datluyam
Murtaza Ali zatluyam
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Persian lyrics:
Manam Jamshid, manam Khosrow,
Manam Rostam o Fereydunam,
Name Ali'st, bar labanam,
Pir-e davazda emamam,

Sharabe man, khoone Yazid,
Cho Rostam khoone div ra pashid,
Manam shahe Ghezelbashian,
Manam Shahanshaye Iran

Translation of the Persian text:
I am Jamshid, I am Khosrow,
I am Rostam and Fereydun,
The name of Ali is on my lips,
I am the Pir of the Twelve Imams,

My wine is the blood of Yazid,
As Rostam shed the blood of the div,
I am the King of the Qizilbash,
I am the King of Kings of Iran

The Persian lyrics are sentiments written down by Ismail. Present here is Shiite Islamic imagery; such as the emphasis on the Twelve Imams, a belief specific to Shia Islam which proclaims that succession to the prophet Muhammad is passed every era through a divinely appointed Imam of which there will be twelve, and hostility towards Yazid as a figure of evil due to his killing of Imam Hussein, one of the central figures of Shia Islam. This Shiite Islamic imagery is coupled closely with emphasis on native, pre-Islamic Iranian cultural elements such as the Zoroastrian mythology of Rostam, Jamshid, Fereydun, etc, which remain to this day central to Iranian identity.

This shows the highly multidimensional nature of the Safavid Empire as an Iranian empire where native, pre-Islamic Iranian identity played a fundamental part in its identity, ruled by a Turkic speaking dynasty, and shaped by a newly consolidated Shia Islam that would come to define Iran in opposition to much of the rest of the Islamic world.

The Azerbaijani lyrics are a poem by Shah Ismail himself, however as with all poems of the era, an English translation is very difficult to offer, so I would rather prefer that someone with a better grasp of Azerbaijani than me write down the translation. The general gist of the poem is Ismail's affirmation of himself as the king, representative of the Imams and defender of the ideals of Sufism, the Qizilbash, and Shiite Islam.

[faryafaraji]

Music by Farya Faraji, including improvisations by Soheil Saadat and Nayan Sahihi. Duduk by @AliFarbodnia setar and tar by Siavosh Karami, tanboor by Soheil Saadat, vocals by Ali Reza Berenjan and Farya Faraji, and kamanche by Nayan Sahihi.

Please note that this isn't reconstructed era music, this is modern Iranian and Azerbaijani music with a historical theme.

I wanted to delve into the rich subject of the Safavid dynasty which is commonly seen as the beginning of modern Iranian history, and whose lasting effects include the conversion of Iran to a Shiite Muslim country, and its consolidation as one of the major gunpowder-based powers in the region. The Safavids were a Turkic speaking dynasty whose dialect was an early form of the modern Azerbaijani language. They came to power in 16th century Iran under the rule of Shah Ismail I.

Ismail I was a renowned poet under the pen name of Khatayi. As the leader of the Qizilbash, a faction of Shiite, Turkic Sufi militant group, he took power in Iran, and solidified it as the eastern, Shiite adversary of the Sunni Ottoman empire for centuries to come.

The music is primarily based in the common, shared musical heritage of Iranian and Azerbaijani musical forms, with the tar and kamanche being central in both traditions. An Iranian setar and tanbour also accompany the piece, as well as a duduk, an instrument called the mey by Azerbaijanis, and commonly played both in Azerbaijan as well by the Azeris of Iran. A Sufi aesthetic also shapes the central component of the music's rhythm, with the rythmic breaths being typical of Zikr: Sufi musical gatherings were rhythm is used to induce the mystics into a trance believed to bring them closer to the divine. The kurdish tanboor adds to the mystical, Sufi aesthetic of the song, being closely associated with Kurdish Sufis.

The main melody is in the mode of Isfahan, equivalent to the Western harmonic minor, with the kamanche improv in the middle by Nayan Sahihi being in Segah.

The lyrics are in the Azerbaijani and Persian languages.

Azerbaijani lyrics:
Allah Allah din gaziler
Gaziler deyin şah menem
Karşu gelün secde kılun
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Uçmakta tuti kuşuyam
Ağır leşker er başıyam
Men sufiler yoldaşıyam
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Ne yerd'ekersen biterim
Handa çağırsan yeterim
Sufiler elin dutarım
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Mansur ile darda idim
Halil ile narda idim
Musa ile Tur'da idim
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Tahkıyk ile şahı tanun
Nevruz edin şaha yetün
Hey gaziler secde kılun
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Kırmızı taclu boz atlu
Ağır leşkeri nisbetlü
Yusuf Peygamber sıfatlu
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Hatai'yem al atluyam
Sözü şekerden datluyam
Murtaza Ali zatluyam
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Persian lyrics:
Manam Jamshid, manam Khosrow,
Manam Rostam o Fereydunam,
Name Ali'st, bar labanam,
Pir-e davazda emamam,

Sharabe man, khoone Yazid,
Cho Rostam khoone div ra pashid,
Manam shahe Ghezelbashian,
Manam Shahanshaye Iran

Translation of the Persian text:
I am Jamshid, I am Khosrow,
I am Rostam and Fereydun,
The name of Ali is on my lips,
I am the Pir of the Twelve Imams,

My wine is the blood of Yazid,
As Rostam shed the blood of the div,
I am the King of the Qizilbash,
I am the King of Kings of Iran

The Persian lyrics are sentiments written down by Ismail. Present here is Shiite Islamic imagery; such as the emphasis on the Twelve Imams, a belief specific to Shia Islam which proclaims that succession to the prophet Muhammad is passed every era through a divinely appointed Imam of which there will be twelve, and hostility towards Yazid as a figure of evil due to his killing of Imam Hussein, one of the central figures of Shia Islam. This Shiite Islamic imagery is coupled closely with emphasis on native, pre-Islamic Iranian cultural elements such as the Zoroastrian mythology of Rostam, Jamshid, Fereydun, etc, which remain to this day central to Iranian identity.

This shows the highly multidimensional nature of the Safavid Empire as an Iranian empire where native, pre-Islamic Iranian identity played a fundamental part in its identity, ruled by a Turkic speaking dynasty, and shaped by a newly consolidated Shia Islam that would come to define Iran in opposition to much of the rest of the Islamic world.

The Azerbaijani lyrics are a poem by Shah Ismail himself, however as with all poems of the era, an English translation is very difficult to offer, so I would rather prefer that someone with a better grasp of Azerbaijani than me write down the translation. The general gist of the poem is Ismail's affirmation of himself as the king, representative of the Imams and defender of the ideals of Sufism, the Qizilbash, and Shiite Islam.

[etiennespasm]

I consider Farya as a teacher for me. Each times he releases a song about a subject I don't know, I can't stop digging internet to find information about it. This song about the Safavid Dynasty makes me understood a bit better Shia Islam, but also Sufism, and the fascinating history of that part of the world. And i thank him for that.

[HistorywithCy]

Shah Ismail is in my top ten for the most intriguing people in Iranian history. Really interesting piece you're put together and thanks again for the translation...those are some fascinating verses!

[iberius]

Breathy Sufi chanting, epic drums, kamanche, tar, tamboor, duduk, et al are the combination we didn't know we needed! Definitely one of your best compositions.

[ciaronsmith]

Man, I love that you quoted his actual poetry in this (I am Khosrow, I am Jamshid etc).
Great work. Iran is mighty.

[رضابهاری-صز]

Hi farya. Iam an Iranian Azerbaijani my compatriot from Ardabil from the birthplace of the Safavid dynasty this music was very beautiful it took me to the era of Safavid About the afsharid Iran and ottoman empire.long love the country of Iran And Goodluck❤🇮🇷

[aymonnaqvi]

My Turk husband introduced me to this song while i was pregnant, and smt about the throat singing combined with the instruments and Shah's poetry would calm me down, and I would sleep. Today we discovered it has the same affect on our 8 week old son. 😂❤

[mtpnt]

As an Iranian born in America, I love all of your beautiful musical interpretations of our country's rich history. In a media landscape that is sparse in favorable portrayals of the region, I deeply appreciate your content. Keep up the amazing work.

[romaboo]

Azerbaijani lyrics:
Allah Allah din gaziler
Gaziler deyin şah menem
Karşu gelün secde kılun
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Allah Allah, faith, ghazis
Ghazis say that I am the Shah
Stand before me and bow in prayer
Ghazis say that I am the Shah

Uçmakta tuti kuşuyam
Ağır leşker er başıyam
Men sufiler yoldaşıyam
Gaziler deyin şah menem

I am the bird of Tuti* in flight
I am the chief soldier of the heavy troops
I am companion to the Sufis
Ghazis say that I am the Shah

Ne yerd'ekersen biterim
Handa çağırsan yeterim
Sufiler elin dutarım
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Wherever you sow me I will bloom
Wherever you call for me I will arrive
I will hold the hand of Sufis
Ghazis say that I am the Shah

Mansur ile darda idim
Halil ile narda idim
Musa ile Tur'da idim
Gaziler deyin şah menem

I was in trouble with Mansur**
I was together with Abraham
I was at mount of Tur with Moses
Ghazis say that I am the Shah

Tahkıyk ile şahı tanun
Nevruz edin şaha yetün
Hey gaziler secde kılun
Gaziler deyin şah menem

Know your Shah in congregation
Celebrate Nawruz and be sufficient for Shah
O ghazis stand before me and bow in prayer
Ghazis say that I am the Shah

Kırmızı taclu boz atlu
Ağır leşkeri nisbetlü
Yusuf Peygamber sıfatlu
Gaziler deyin şah menem

With red crown and grey horse
With heavy troops renowned
Named as Prophet Joseph
Ghazis say that I am the Shah

Hatai'yem al atluyam
Sözü şekerden datluyam
Murtaza Ali zatluyam
Gaziler deyin şah menem

I am Khatai with red horse
I am the one whose word is sweeter than sugar
I am personified by beloved Ali
Ghazis say that I am the Shah


*Name of a bird owned by a merchant that gained its freedom from cage by dying
*Mansur al-Hallaj from Iran who uttered the words "I am the Truth/God", important in creed of unity of being

Translation and context provided by ​ @gunpowderaficionado9318 I'm just putting in here so I can read it easier

[brl]

I'm trying to spend a day without listening, but no, I always end up on Farya's channel every day. Respect birader.

[enverrizvo]

As a devoted student of the life and works of Shah Ismail, I am delighted. I downloaded this masterpiece even before I listened to it to the end. Magnificent. Keep up the great work Farya. Greetings from Bosnia.

[amirfallah]

I see some people arguing if Ismail was Iranian or not.

first of all, what we know as Nation-State is a modern term.
Iran ( previously Eranshahr) has so many ethnic groups. Kurds, Turks, Lurs, Baloch, Arabs, Persians etc.
( btw that's why Reza Shah asked westerners to call us Iran not Persia!)

yes he was Turk( maybe with Kurdish roots) but in a larger scale he was an Iranian.

It's not strange that from time to time some ethnics has ruled Iran ( as you see later on with Zands)

[Huegeltroll]

What a pleasant surprise, I was just yesterday night reading on Safavid history and now this drops. Beautiful and brilliant as always.

[yerawizurdheary]

As a huge fan of your works from Azerbaijan I sincerely thank you for this magnificient piece. You're a great person Farya.

[kingofpullus]

Finally a Shah Ismail project from Farya Faraji! I've been waiting for this moment for a long time and it was great. Shah Ismail is a very interesting character. A gnosticism disguised as leadership, poetry, philosophy and Shia. All of them are united in a single body as Shah Ismail. Khatai expressed it. I always saw him as the eastern version of the western philosopher emperor Marcus Aurelius. Khatai (Shah Ismael) Those who read the secret and message in his poems will understand what I mean. He is both a good leader, an Iranian revolutionary and the best poet in Turkish history. He is the greatest of the 7 Great Poets in turkish literature.

Before the earth and the sky existed, I existed
I was a rotating compass emerging from a single grain of ore
I turned this substance into water, it covered the entire universe
I was the one who created the jinn and man, the earth and the sky.
I disguised myself as Adam, but no one learned my secret.
I have already been living in that house of God for a long time.
Since then I knew his (God's) secret that he was my
That's why I was a secret within a secret with God
O Khatai, I have undoubtedly known and recognized the Truth.
That's why I denied what he created...

[RxnClash]

Persian culture has to be my favorite ones so far; long live persia & bengal friendship from Bangladesh.

[ShadowOfBonaparte]

First Darius, then Cyrus, followed by Khosrow; So now Ismail...

Well, next in line is Nadir Shah Afshar. I will look forward to your composition dedicated to this extraordinary person.

[Shahanshah.Shahin]

Persian lyrics:-

*Manam Jamshid, Manam Khosrow, *
*Manam Rostam o Fereydunam, *
_I am Jamshid, I am Khosrow_
_I am Rostam and Fereydun_

*Nam-e Ali'st bar labanam, *
*Pir-e Davazda emamam, *
_The name of Ali is on my lips, _
_I am the holy man of the Twelve_ _Imams_

*Sharab-e man Khoon-e Yazid, *
*Cho Rostam Khoon-e div ra pashid, *
_My wine is the blood of Yazid_ _(2nd Umayyad Caliph)_
_As Rostam shed the blood of demon_

*Manam Shah-e Ghezelbashian, *
*Maman Shahanshah-e Iran*
_I am the Shah of Qizilbash_
_I am the King of Kings of Iran_

[عرفانعرفانیان-زظ]

‏‪3:01
بسیار هوشمندانه هست این موسیقی👌
در آمیختگی هویت ایرانی و شیعه👌
درود برصفویه🇮🇷🙌
انشالله برای نادرشاه هم چنین موسیقی سروده بشه🤲
دوتار خراسان و سروده های فارسی و ترکی چون قومیت ایشان تُرک اوغلو و زبان ایشان فارسی بود.
به علاوه اشاره به صلوات خواصه امام رضا علیه السلام
چون ایشان داماد صفویه و سازنده حرم امام رضا و امام علی بودند و شهر مذهبی مشهد در دوره ایشان پایتخت بود.
مهر سلطنتی نادرشاه الملک لله و پرچم نیروی دریایی ایشان ذولفقار حضرت علی بود.
منتظر اون روز هستم❤
باتشکر از سازنده موسیقی🙏

[alisultanzade]

"Mənəm şahe qızılbaşan mənəm şahənşəhe iran" was definitely best part im an afsharid qizilbash from urmia iran