Saz-e Shekaste (broken instrument) Live 07 Roma (improvisation)

The new music and sound performance by Ali Ostovar explores working with objects associated with his memories from the past, especially in relation to his childhood memories with his father in his native Iran. The title of the performance refers to a song of the same name by Delkash, one of the iconic singers of the 1940s–1960s in Iran. Ali listened to many Iranian songs at home during childhood, as his father was fascinated with listening to and playing traditional music. The title also refers to his life story of carrying a broken Iranian setar around Europe for more than 12 years to find someone who could fix it; he still kept it even after buying a new one.

At the performance, he will play approximately 60 minutes of live-electronic music using his laptop, a few cassette players, a synthesizer, and possibly other instruments, questioning what it means to bring the past into the present or keep it there. Does the past consist only of what we remember? And what about what we don’t remember?

He recreates personal memories by selecting different sound materials, using sonic metaphors and transculturation, and playing with time, frequencies, and transformation.

Rome, 08.July.2023

aliostovar.com/saze-shekasteh/

Photo credit by Saleh Kazemi

[Rec - 23.07.08 - 22h42m14s Performance in Roma]