Ensemble DAMSAZ – this means familiar, harmonious, on the same path – is a loving duet founded by Hamid Motebassem and Samira Golbaz after 40 years of musical experience in classical Persian music and over 1,500 performances around the world. The duet is accompanied by Omid Niavarani, a percussionist of the younger generation
After 40 years of musical experience and over 1,500 performances around the world, the renowned instrumentalist and composer Hamid Motebassem, along with Samira Golbaz, founded an ensemble called “DAMSAZ”. Ensemble DAMSAZ – which means familiar, harmonious, on the same path – is a loving duet established by Hamid Motebassem and Samira Golbaz. This time, the duet takes the stage at the Lutherkirche Südstadt with Omid Niavarani, a percussionist of the younger generation.
Samira Golbaz, Iranian Tar and Vocals
Hamid Motebassem, Iranian Tar and Vocals
Omid Niavarani
Hamid Motebassem, Iranian Composer, Tar & Setar Player
was born in 1958 in Mashad, Iran. He grew up in a musical family, with his first teacher for the Tar being his father Ali Motebassem. His later teachers included masters Habiballah Salehi, Zeydallah Toloie, Houshang Zarif, Hossein Alizadeh, and Mohammad Reza Lotfi. Motebassem studied at the Tehran Academy of Fine Arts and the Conservatory of Persian Music. He was a member of the Chavosh Cultural Center, where he taught music. As one of the original members of the Aref Ensemble, he founded the Dastan Ensemble and the Chakavak, Mezrab & Pardis Ensembles after his immigration to Germany in 1986. Hamid Motebassem is the founder of the Society of Tar and Setar and has been organizing annual seminars on the two instruments since 1994. He has contributed to numerous albums of contemporary Iranian composers and has performed in well-known ensembles such as the Mezrab Ensemble or Dastan Ensemble.
His own works include compositions for traditional instruments, such as Hanaie and Shurideh, which won the title of “Musical Shock” in the music magazine Le Monde and was awarded by the French Ministry of Culture as the best music of the year 2003.
Samira Golbaz
was born in 1984. She holds a B.A. in Music from Sooreh University and an M.A. in Art Research from Islamic Azad University. Her main teachers in playing the Setar and the principles of Iranian music were Ataollah Jangook, Hamid Sokouti, Bahram Jamali, Alireza Rastinfar, Masoud Shaari, and Hamid Motebassem. Her key artistic activities include teaching music, collaborating with several music groups (such as Torgheh, Sarv-e-azad, and Mezrab), and working with Hamid Motebassem as a Tar and Setar player on several albums such as “Zemzemeha”, “Zemestan”, “To kisti”, “Tar-o-Pud”, and “My Colorful Dreams”. She has performed in several countries and at various international festivals, and has also written music articles and reviews.
https://www.facebook.com/public/Samira-Golbaz
Omid Niavarani
is an Iranian drummer who holds a master's degree in International Music and Cultural Diversity from the University of Hildesheim in Germany. He has appeared on radio and television and has participated in various concerts and festivals.
In addition to his performances, Omid also organizes festivals and concert tours in Iran and Germany. He is currently working on recordings of albums featuring classical Iranian music, Zorkhaneh music, and international music. He also conducts seminars on Iranian classical music, Zorkhaneh music, and Iranian percussion instruments at various universities. He learned Tombak from Pedram Khavarzmini, Master Faramarz Najafi Tehrani, and Ali Najafi Tehrani, and Daf from Shahriar Nazari.