TEHRAN, May
4--Veteran musician and composer Hossein Dehlavi said that music does
not have the status it deserves in Iran and is passing through an
undynamic phase.
He told IRNA that for centuries Persian music has suffered from
negligence which has increased meaningfully in recent years.
He noted that officials in charge of cultural affairs do not respect the musicians and such a treatment has led to the emergence of what he called ’superficial songs’.
Bureaucracy and lack of expertise of the officials
are among the major problem facing the music sector.
Dehlavi said he believes that usually expertise brings commitment.
Therefore, by handing over the management of the music sector to
specialists, many of the problems can be overcome.
He described the crisis in the music sector as emanating from absence of
expertise among officials administering music affairs.
“Even inappropriate idioms are being applied in the songs while Persian
literature is ahead of music in terms of progress it has made,“ he said.
He said that though the music is being taught in universities at the MA
level, no special attention has been paid to enhance its level adding
that in other countries music is being taught at the doctorate level.
Dehlavi said that he is currently compiling a book about ’Relationship
between Poetry and Music’.
Criticizing those who think music is harmful to children, he said that
music teaches children how to observe discipline in life and have an
active physical lifestyle.
“Unfortunately, officials do not know how music can be made useful for
children,“ the master of music said.
