Reza Ghassemi


Reza Ghassemi is an Iranian novelist and musician.

Life

Ghassemi was born in Esfahan. Besides his activities as a writer he is also involved in exercising classical Iranian music and a master of the Persian lute, the Setar. He has composed songs for the Iranian maestro Shahram Nazeri and been on stage with leading Iranian vocalists, such as maestri Mohammad Reza Shajarian and Sepideh Raissadat.
His best-known composition is the last track on the best-selling classical Iranian album Gol-e Sadbarg, released in 1984. This album, which includes compositions from Jalal Zolfonoun and Shahram Nazeri as well as Reza Ghassemi, is believed to have had the most influential effect on young Iranian artists who initially were reluctant to learn the Setar.
Since the release of the album Gol-e Sadbarg, the Setar has enjoyed much more popularity among Iranians. In truth, Ghassemi and his two famous colleagues, mentioned above, began a new era in Iranian classical music.
Though he lives in France, Ghassemi has not given up teaching Iranian music. Farrokhzad Layegh has studied the Setar with, among other masters, Mr. Ghassemi.
Reza Ghassemi's latest album 14 Cheerful Pieces with the voice of Iranian vocalist Sepideh Raissadat was released on October 25, 2010, in France.
He has published three novels so far: Nocturnal Orchestra of Woods, The Well of Babel and The Spell Chanted by Lambs. Some of his works have been translated into French. The Spell Chanted by Lambs is his first work in English.

Awards