The Kamkars (, ) is a Kurdish

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

musical family group of seven brothers and a sister, all from the city of

Sanandaj Sanandaj (; ) is a city in the Central District of Sanandaj County, in the Kurdistan province of Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. With a population of 414,069, it is the second largest Kurdish city a ...

, the capital of the

Kurdistan Kurdistan (, ; ), or Greater Kurdistan, is a roughly defined geo- cultural region in West Asia wherein the Kurds form a prominent majority population and the Kurdish culture, languages, and national identity have historically been based. G ...

province of

. The group has performed numerous concerts around the world, including their performance at the 2003

Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize (Swedish language, Swedish and ) is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the Will and testament, will of Sweden, Swedish industrialist, inventor, and armaments manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Nobe ...

ceremony honoring Shirin Ebadi. After six years of absence, the Kamkars returned to the stage on January 11, 2024, with a concert titled ''Living Fire'' at Tehran's Espinas Hall. Blending

Kurdish music Kurdish music (, or ''مۆسیقای کوردی'') refers to music performed in the Kurdish languages and Zaza-Gorani languages. The earliest study of Kurdish music was initiated by the renowned Armenian priest and composer Komitas in 1903, wh ...

, classical Iranian pieces, and global influences, the performance featured their signature fusion of traditional melodies with Western string and wind instruments.

Group Members

* Hooshang Kamkar - (director and composer of the group) * Bijan Kamkar - (lead singer and Tar, Rubab,

Tombak The tombak (), tonbak () or zarb () is an Iranian goblet drum. It is considered the principal Rhythm in Persian music, percussion instrument of Persian music. The tombak is normally positioned diagonally across the torso, while the player uses ...

, Dohol and Daf player) * Pashang Kamkar - ( Santoor player) * Ghashang Kamkar - (

Setar A setar (, ) (lit: "Three String (music), Strings") is a stringed instrument, a type of lute used in Persian traditional music, played solo or accompanying voice. It is a member of the tanbur family of long-necked lutes with a range of more than ...

player) * Arjang Kamkar - ( Tonbak player) * Arsalan Kamkar - ( Barbat, Oud and

Violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...

player) * Ardeshir Kamkar - ( Kamancheh and Ghaychak player) * Ardavan Kamkar - ( Santoor player) * Najmeh Tajaddod - (vocalist) * Maryam Ebrahimpour - (vocalist) * Saba Kamkar - (vocalist) * Hana Kamkar - (Daf) * Neyriz Kamkar - ( Tar player) * Omid Lotfi - (

player)

Discography

Albums

* '' Zardie Khazan'' * '' Baharan e Abidar'' * '' In Memory of Hafez'' * '' Shabahengam'' * '' Baraneh'' * '' Darya'' * '' In Memory of Saba'' * '' Afsaneh Sarzamine Pedari'' * '' Living Fire'' (January 16, 1996)

* '' Nightingale with a Broken Wing'' (March 11, 1997)

* '' Chant of Drums'' (August 10, 1999)

* '' Kani Sepi'' (August 17, 1999)

* '' Music From Kurdistan'' (August 24, 1999)

* '' Gol Nishan'' (?) * '' Biabane Bikaran'' * '' Khorshid e Mastan''

Compilations

* '' Persheng'' / Singer: Abbas Kamandi * '' Ouraman'' / Singer: Abbas Kamandi * '' Nashakiba / Singer: Homayoun Shajarian'' * '' Emshow / Singer: Adnan Karim'' * '' Dar Golestane / Singer: Shahram Nazeri''

Notes

External links