Recently I had the great pleasure of going over to Master Zoufonoun and Mrs. Zoufonoun's house. I was there to tape a video clip of Master Zoufonoun for our viewer (you can find it under the video link of this site). I also had the chance to interview this great man to get a glimpse of his life. I sat down at a cozy table enjoying the great hospitality of Mrs. Zoufonoun. I quickly realized that my job was to record Mr. Zoufonoun words as fast as possible because the treasures he stores within are abundant and fascinating.

Q: Master Zoufonoun what does music mean to you?

A: Music refines human emotions and moves humanity forward. It nourishes the soul. It is also a great source of entertainment and keeps the soul away from bad deeds. It is the mission of my soul to play, and to teach my art to others.

Q: What inspires you?

A: Music, my family, the combination of two.

Q: How did you get into the world of music in the first place?

A: My grandfather was a "Moshtahed Zadeh", a religious man. He would sing in the mosque. He needed an heir to take over his religious duties. So he send my father as a young man to Esfahan for religious training. While in Esfahan my father decided to pay a visit to the Armenian church in Jolfah. On his way he happened to pass by a Tar shop called "Yahya". He fell in love with this instrument. His brother who was with him discouraged my father from perusing his interest in the Tar. He warned my dad that the town folks would "Takfir" or disapprove of such interests, and even call it blasphemy. My father obeyed, but in his heart he wanted to learn to play the Tar. So the next time he traveled by himself, he went to Yahya Tar store and fulfilled his hearts desire by getting himself a Tar. This was a secret passion he did not dare reveal to my grandfather. In time when my grandfather died his house was divided in two. One half became a religious house. The other half that my father occupied turned into a Tar studio. There he began teaching students and making the Tar himself.

At this time Iraj Mirza was the ruler of the town we lived in. I was about five or six years old. I would often go into Iraj Mirza's office and became very much inspired by the music and art I encountered. I began to play my father's Tars in secret, thinking he would object and tell me to focus on my school work. But eventually he found out and in fact encouraged me to play. By the time I was in third or fourth grade I had become so skilled that I began teaching the principle's children the Tar. They were my first students.

I became very much interested in the Kamancheh as I heard my dad teach it to a student. It was this sound that lead me to pick up the bow and play the violin. At first I made a Violin like instrument myself (Master Zoufonoon is a highly skilled craftsman as well as musician. He has built numerous unique instruments). My father was aware of my talent and encouraged me to advance my music studies. So at age fifteen I moved to Shiraz and began training under Vaziritabar and Jalilvand. Under their guidance I refined my skills on the violin and in note reading. In Shiraz I became a renowned Violinist. I performed in numerous concerts along side my own teachers. I taught independently and wrote my first composition based on a poem of Hafiz called "Ba in Matlaa".

In 1323 I was encouraged to go to Tehran to further my music education. I refined my technical skills by working with Rubic Gherigoorian. I studied theory and harmony under the great master Rooholah Khaleghi. I took private lessons under master Abdolhassan Saba. At the same time I contacted "Edareh Musighi Keshvar" and "Honarestan Musighi". Soon I was working for these organizations and also began my solo career with the National Radio. I was a member of "Anjomaneh Musighi Melli". I also worked for "Institute Omur Honari". Some of the orchestras I worked with include Orchesreh Gholha, Pop, Farabi. I also participated in numerous recordings with famous musicians and singers.

By 1327 "Honarestan Musighi Melli" was inaugurated. Next to Saba and Mallah, the three of us were the first teachers of violin at the Honarestan. At the Honarestan is where I first saw your mother. I remember her sitting on the steps and practicing her mizrab skills by tapping them rhythmically on her lap. I taught at the Honarestan for thirty years, until we came to the United States.

(Master Zoufonoun giving a lesson to young Farid Farjad)

Q: What are some of your unforgettable memories?

A: I have a memory of Rubic. Once when he was tuning his instrument the strings ripped and flew off. I looked at him in amazement to see what he would do next. He looked at me calmly and said:"Why do you look surprised? This is nothing. People fall down and die!"

Also, I remember back when I was a young man in Shiraz. One night me and 15 other friends decided to go to Takhteh Jamshid on our bicycles. We took the unpaved routes in the darkness. On the way we stopped 15 times so we could repair our bicycle tires. We did arrive and that was an incredible night I will never forget. I am not going to tell you about our trip to Europe with my family, during which our car caught on fire at a gas station. That is a whole book of its own.

Q: What do you miss the most about the past?

A: Shiraz, my childhood in Abadeh, and seeing my former colleagues if they are still living.

Q: What projects are you working on now?

A: I am getting ready to publish the second book of folk songs, the first of which is already published.

Q: Among the Iranian traditional music you have heard recently, who or which group has impressed you the most? And why?

A: Dastan and Shams. They play one hundred percent traditional music. Their performances are excellent. They work well together as a team.

Q: Do you think Iranian Traditional music will change, evolve?

A: Traditional music is rooted in the past, in thousands of years of Iranian history. It will always be the same.

Q: Mr. Zoufonoun, you are a master and people see you as one. As a master, is there anything you still wish to accomplish for yourself?

A: Yes. There is something I need to point out first. If you have ever traveled to Europe and seen all the statues of famous composers displayed in cities and towns, you must ask yourself, why are all these musicians celebrated and esteemed so highly? The answer is not that they have composed unforgettable songs, but that they have composed memorable symphonies. In this respect I have composed several pieces of music that I would like to see one day get performed by a symphony of Iranian instruments. This is still something I would like accomplish.

Q: Who are your favorite Western composers?

A: Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?

A: Yes. If you don't have talent, don't waist your time and money.

(Master Zoufonoun's music studio)

God bless Master Zoufonoun, and his gracious wife for being the keeper of his heart.