''Morqe Sahar'' (, often
romanised
In linguistics, romanization is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, and transcription, ...
as ''Morgh-e Sahar'', variously translated as ''Dawn Bird'', ''Bird of the Morning'',
'' The Nightingale'') is an Iranian ''
tasnif
''Tasnif'' () is one of the several forms of Persian music and can be considered as the Persian equivalent of the ballad.
It is a composed song in a slow metre. As is true of other forms of musical composition, most ''tasnifs'' are of relatively ...
'' often sung in protest of injustices, dictatorship and tyranny in Iran.
Often regarded as the "anthem" of struggles for freedom in Iran, the ''tasnif'' was written by Mohammad-Taqi Bahar
Mohammad-Taqi Bahar (; also romanised as Mohammad-Taqī Bahār; 10 December 1886 in Mashhad – 22 April 1951 in Tehran), widely known as Malek osh-Sho'arā () and Malek osh-Sho'arā Bahār ("poet laureate," literally: ''the king of poets''), w ...
and composed by Morteza Neidavoud in the early 20th century under the wake of Iranian constitutional revolution
The Persian Constitutional Revolution (, or ''Enghelāb-e Mashrūteh''), also known as the Constitutional Revolution of Iran, took place between 1905 and 1911 during the Qajar era. The revolution led to the establishment of a parliament in I ...
. The song's lyrics centre on the metaphor of the bird of dawning or morning that initiates a lament. As the song progresses, it appeals to the caged bird to sing and break free, symbolising the termination of a period of oppression ("night") and the commencement of liberation ("day").[
Whilst the first stanza of ''Morqe Sahar'' has been described as more lyrical, the second stanza has been described as "dealing with social and political issues". The second stanza was banned by ]Reza Shah Pahlavi
Reza Shah Pahlavi born Reza Khan (15 March 1878 – 26 July 1944) was shah of Iran from 1925 to 1941 and founder of the roughly 53 years old Pahlavi dynasty. Originally a military officer, he became a politician, serving as minister of war an ...
since 1925 until his overthrow in 1941. This came after the song was performed at a home gathering of the Shah's minister Teymourtash, during which the Shah heard the song. According to a Kayhan
''Kayhan'' () is a Persian-language newspaper published in Tehran, Iran. It is considered "the most conservative and hard-line Iranian newspaper." Hossein Shariatmadari is the editor-in-chief of ''Kayhan''. According to the report of the ' ...
article, the second stanza was sung at private parties, where the atmosphere was more suited to political debate in comparison to the preceding stanza that was often sung publicly.
History
The first recording artist to sing ''Morqe Sahar'' was Qamar-ol-Moluk Vaziri
Qamar-ol-Moluk Vaziri ( ; (1905 – 5 August 1959), born Qamar Khanum Seyed Hosayn Khan (), commonly known as "Qamar" ( ), was a celebrated Iranian singer, who was also the first woman of her time to sing in public in Iran without wearing a veil. S ...
who sang it in 1924 at a Tehran
Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...
hotel during her first formal vocal performance. Morqe Sahar was first recorded in 1927 by Iranoddole Helen or Taj Esfahani. One of the first recording is also attributed to the signing of Moluk Zarrabi. It was later performed by numerous Iranian singers including Qamar-ol-Moluk Vaziri
Qamar-ol-Moluk Vaziri ( ; (1905 – 5 August 1959), born Qamar Khanum Seyed Hosayn Khan (), commonly known as "Qamar" ( ), was a celebrated Iranian singer, who was also the first woman of her time to sing in public in Iran without wearing a veil. S ...
, Mohammad-Reza Shajarian
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (; , 23 September 1940 – 8 October 2020) was an Iranian singer and master (''Ostad'') of Persian traditional music. He was also known for his skills in Persian calligraphy and humanitarian activities. Shajarian started ...
, Leila Forouhar
Leila Forouhar (, ''Leilâ Foruhar''; born 23 February 1959) is a Persian pop and classical singer. She was a child star, acting from the age of 3. She relocated to next door Turkey in 1986, then to Paris, before emigrating to Los Angeles in 1988 ...
, Homayoun Shajarian
Homayoun Shajarian (, born 21 May 1975) is an Iranian singer. Homayoun is the son of Iranian singer Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, He learned singing from his father and started his musical career in the 1990s.
Early life
Shajarian was born in Te ...
, Farhad Mehrad
Farhad Mehrad (20 January 1944 – 31 August 2002) was a popular Iranian singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. He was a versatile musician who released the first English rock and roll album in Iran. Farhad gained fame among the Iranian r ...
, Shakila, Mohsen Namjoo
Mohsen Namjoo () is an Iranian singer-songwriter, composer, and musician. His style of music is influenced by blues and rock as well as Iranian folk music.
Early life and education
Namjoo was born on 4 March 1976 in Torbat-e Jam, a small town ...
, Reza Sadeghi
Reza Sadeghi (, born 16 August 1979) is an Iranian pop singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, and one of the most popular domestic singers in Iran. He is praised for his vocals and songwriting, which are mainly about the subject of love ...
, and Hengameh Akhavan Hengameh (in Persian هنگامه) is a Persian given name
A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates t ...
.
The song is regarded as a hit and a "signature" piece of the highly respected singer Mohammad Reza Shajarian
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (; , 23 September 1940 – 8 October 2020) was an Iranian singer and master ('' Ostad'') of Persian traditional music. He was also known for his skills in Persian calligraphy and humanitarian activities. Shajarian started ...
[ who was often regarded as a public figure voicing for democracy.] It was incorporated as the closing segment in all of his concert presentations. In 2020, crowds of mourners congregated to express their sorrow over the passing of Shajarian at the Jam Hospital, where he had been undergoing medical care. During this gathering, the attendees sang ''Morqe Sahar'' - often referred to as his "signature" creation - and vocalised slogans denouncing authoritative rule, which led to an encounter with Iranian authorities.
Lyrics
In popular culture
* Morq-e Sahar (spelled as "Morghe Sahar") was the theme for the Persian civilization in the videogame Civilization V
''Sid Meier's Civilization V'' is a 4X turn-based strategy video game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K (company), 2K. It is the sequel to Civilization IV, ''Civilization IV'', and was released for Microsoft Windows, Windows in Sep ...
, and also an ambient theme for the Persian civilization in Civilization VI
''Sid Meier's Civilization VI'' is a 2016 4X turn-based strategy video game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K (company), 2K. The mobile and Nintendo Switch ports were published by Aspyr Media. It is the sequel to ''Civilization V'' ...
.
* Morq-e Sahar (spelled as "Morghe Sahar") was featured as the through line in the Academy Award shortlisted documentary feature, The Voice of Dust and Ash
''The Voice of Dust and Ash'' is a feature-length documentary by first time Iranian-American director Mandana Biscotti, about Maestro Mohammad-Reza Shajarian. The film gives a first hand chronological account of Shajarian's life, through the ani ...
, that tells the life story of Maestro Mohammad Reza Shajarian
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (; , 23 September 1940 – 8 October 2020) was an Iranian singer and master ('' Ostad'') of Persian traditional music. He was also known for his skills in Persian calligraphy and humanitarian activities. Shajarian started ...
.
External links
Mohammadreza Shajarian, Tasnif: Morghe Sahar
ENCYCLOPÆDIA IRANICA
References
{{Reflist, Shajarian and Morghe Sahar=
Songs in Persian