Classical Persian music is built on the radif, a repertoire of melodic models passed down from master to student. In Cologne and other German cities, musicians from the diaspora are combining this tradition with jazz, chamber music and electronic sounds.

Old instruments, new ensembles

Instruments such as the tar, the kamancheh and the santur are increasingly heard alongside piano, double bass and percussion. Concert series in small venues aim to reach both Persian-speaking listeners and audiences discovering the music for the first time.

Explaining the music

Many evenings start with a short introduction to the modes and the poetry behind the songs, often by Hafez or Rumi. Organisers say that this context helps German listeners follow the improvisations that are central to Persian music.