The Bakhshi Music of Khorasan

Located in the east of Iran, Khorasan is one of the largest cultural regions of the country. This region has special cultural customs and traditions, one of which is the Bakhshi, and is considered a part of the identity of the people of Khorasan.

Due to the variety of its melodies and tunes, musicologists have divided the music of Khorasan into two parts, the foothill music and the plains music, each of which has its own characteristics and special instruments.

The Bakhshi Music of Khorasan

In the past, the Khorasan cultural region included parts of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Currently, the three provinces of North Khorasan, South Khorasan, and Razavi Khorasan are known as “Greater Khorasan” and its cultural diversity largely reflects the ancient history of this region, which, in addition to many historical and tourism sites, also displays its cultural aspects in the music of Khorasan and other customs and traditions of this region.

As one of the components of the music of Khorasan, Bakhshi music has a special place in the traditional music of Iran. Like other folk music of Iran, this music originates from the lives of Kurdish and Turkish ethnic groups, the majority of whom are nomads and villagers. Due to its richness, Bakhshi music has been inscribed on the UNESCO List of intangible heritage of Iran.

With its special style of playing and singing, the rhythm of the Bakhshi music of Khorasan is quite captivating, especially when the musician stands in front of the audience. At times, some musicians of this type of music get so engrossed in their work that they do not even notice that the tips of their fingers are being cut by the strings of their instruments. Most of the poems and tunes performed by Bakhshi musicians of Khorasan are improvised.

Dutar, the Most Important Musical Instrument of Khorasan

Dutar or “do-tar” (lit. two strings) is the most important instrument of music of Khorasan. In fact, dutar is an instrument that distinguishes the music of Khorasan from the music of other regions of Iran.

Dutar is made up of a pair of strings, which is used in playing one of the most famous songs performed in the “dastgah” of the music of Khorasan called “Navai”. Navai is the expression of a lover who is far away from his love and whispers about the difficulties of separation.

Who Are Bakhshis?

Bakhshis are the people who play dutar and have a special place in the music of Khorasan, and in a way, the music of Khorasan its credibility and identity to them. The people of Khorasan do not consider anyone as “Bakhshi” who is just good at playing an instrument or singing. According to them, in addition to these skills, one should also benefit from the techniques of making musical instruments, improvisation, storytelling, and poetry.

The term Bakhshi is derived from “bakhshesh”, which means granting. The people of Khorasan believe that only God can grant being an artist as a “blessing” to a person. Therefore, the artist must have all the moral qualities to achieve this high spiritual and mystical position. Such a view has raised the status of Bakhshis in the society of Khorasan.

The History of the Bakhshis in the Music of Khorasan

According to some evidence, the history of Bakhshi music dates back to ancient times and it has been passed down from generation to generation over the centuries, during which, the music of Khorasan gained richness and many poems and tunes were added to it.

In the past, the Bakhshis of Khorasan were generally farmers. Hence, this music was performed by men while working in the fields. Over time, different themes were formed in the music of Bakhshis, which reflect detailed stories, incidents, and events, moral advice, distance from the beloved, complaints about suffering and sadness, mystical issues, and human emotions and feelings.

The musical style used by the Bakhshis of Khorasan is similar to Kurdish, Turkish, and Khorasan versions with minor differences. This style gradually made its way to family gatherings and celebrations and was even used to treat patients.

The Status of the Bakhshi Musicians of Khorasan in Today’s Society

The music of the Bakhshis of Khorasan is known as the official music of this region and it is taught in music schools as a part of traditional Iranian music. Many groups are also involved in expanding this style of music and every year they perform concerts all over the world.

Bakhsi artists are present in different cities of Khorasan, such as Bojnurd, Torbat-e-Jam, Shirvan, Quchan, Esfarayen, and Dargaz, and they perform on different occasions and for various programs.

As one of the components of the music of Khorasan, Bakhshi music has a special place in the traditional music of Iran. Like other folk music of Iran, this music originates from the lives of Kurdish and Turkish ethnic groups, the majority of whom are nomads and villagers. Due to its richness, Bakhshi music has been inscribed on the UNESCO List of intangible heritage of Iran.