Salam Aleykom (2020)
Based on an iconic theme by Hassan Kassai
Commissioned for Kronos Quartet and Friend
As part of the Pohoda in the Air online festival, Kronos Quartet premiered an expanded performance of Sahba Aminikia's re-imagination of Hassan Kassai’s theme "Salam Aleykom," which Kronos originally released as a work for quartet. In an expression of the humanitarian promise of these words that mean "peace and health be upon you," 44 musicians, artists, and even jugglers from 13 different countries join Kronos for this performance. Each video in the composite was individually recorded by each artist and edited together by Sahba Aminikia.
Thank you all of the artists!
Sahba Aminikia, keytar (Iran/USA)
Kinan Azmeh, clarinet (Syria)
William Barton, didgeridoo (Australia)
Layale Chaker, violin (Lebanon/France)
Marco Persis Coppola, duhol (Italy/USA)
Atabak Elyasi, setar (Iran)
Her Yerde Sanat Derneği / Sirkhane Social Circus School, jugglers (Turkish/Syrian border)
Pinar Demiral, co-founder (Turkey/USA)
The Living Earth Show (USA)
Soo Yeon Lyuh, haegeum (South Korea/USA)
Sahba Motallebi, tar (Iran/USA)
Ben Opie, oboe (Australia)
Ceren Oran, dance (Turkey/Germany)
San Francisco Girls Chorus, vocals (USA)
Valérie Sainte-Agathe, artistic director (France/USA)
Ziya Tabassian, tombak and daf (Iran/Canada)
Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat, vocals (Iran)
Vân-ÁnhVõ, đàn bầu and percussion (Vietnam/USA)
Wu Man, pipa (China/USA)
A remote collaboration during lockdown
Composer Sahba Aminikia writes of the work: “I remember when Tehran was being bombarded by Saddam Hussain’s forces during the 1980s. When that piercing siren suddenly would start screaming from our TV, my family would rush to the basement, where a few of our neighbors also would join us. My father would start joking with everyone and would laugh hysterically at any joke. Those moments with our neighbors in the basement in the dark with candles are still the most magical and mystical moments of my life.
“Salam Aleykom is a re-imagination of Maestro Hassan Kassai’s iconic theme for Persian ney, which has been broadcast on Iranian radio early in the morning everyday for the last 50 years. The theme corresponds to the rhythm inside the word ‘Salam Aleykom’ (peace and health be upon you). May peace and health be upon all of you during these difficult times.”
Kronos and Sahba have challenged their friends Atabak Elyasi, the San Francisco Girls Chorus, Sirkhane, Ziya Tabassian, Mahsa Vahdat, Vân-Ánh Võ, and Wu Man to bring another layer of joy to this piece. Look for a second installment of Salam Aleykom soon.
Hassan Kassai
(1928 - 2012)
assan Kassai (1928–2012) was a virtuoso of the ney (Persian reed flute) and is widely regarded as the most influential ney player of the 20th century. Born in Isfahan into a music-loving family, he began his training at a young age under the guidance of the renowned master Mehdi Navai. Following Navai's passing, Kassai refined his understanding of Persian classical music theory (radif) under the legendary multi-instrumentalist Abolhassan Saba. While he was also a skilled player of the setar and an accomplished vocalist, it was his mastery of the ney that defined his career, as he bridged the gap between traditional folk methods and the sophisticated demands of classical composition.
Kassai is credited with revolutionizing the technique of the instrument, effectively bringing the ney from the background of ensemble music to the forefront as a respected solo instrument. He developed a unique embouchure technique involving the placement of the tongue and lips, which produced a clearer, more precise tone than his predecessors. A prominent figure in the celebrated Golha radio programs, he collaborated with other icons of Persian music such as Jalil Shahnaz and Taj Isfahani. His enduring legacy includes a vast catalog of recordings and the instruction of the next generation of masters, ensuring the ney's permanent place in the canon of Persian classical music.
