Toranj Quartet
Kowli Var
The musical approach of TORANJ Quartet is rooted in the tradition of Persian classical music, which combines composition and improvisation, both grounded in the Radif, the formal and melodic corpus passed down orally and transcribed in the 19th century. The Radif is organized into different Dastgâh (modes), each composed of numerous Gusheh (melodic cells), and features an alternation between reflective, timeless moments (Avazi) and measured sections based on complex rhythms (6/4, 5/8, 7/8, 8/8, 10/8, 6/16). In Kowli Var, the quartet members - Hosna Parsa (kamancheh), Vahid Haji Hosseini (santour), Giovanni Lo Cascio (tombak, kanjeera, koozeh), and Paolo Modugno (bendir, dayereh) - draw on these historical and cultural roots, enriching them with original compositions that extend beyond the boundaries of traditional repertoire. Persian traditional instruments blend with the sounds of Middle Eastern percussion, creating a unique sonic texture that embraces various musical traditions.