Santoor and the Untold Story of Iranian Music (in Japanese)

Interviewee: Professor Masato Tani
Language: Japanese
Format: Audio Interview
Recorded: February 2024

In this interview, Professor Masato Tani, a santur performer and Associate Professor at Kobe University, speaks about his nearly thirty years of research and performance in the field of Iranian music.

The conversation covers his encounter with the santur, the insights he has gained through his long-term study of Iranian music, his fieldwork experiences, and his future goals. This interview offers valuable perspectives not only on the depth of Iranian music, but also on cross-cultural understanding and the ways in which traditional arts can be approached in a changing world.

[Note]

The background music used in this interview is “Voice Sama,” a piece in the Shur mode composed by Parviz Meshkatian (1955–2009).
Santur: Masato Tani
Tombak: Leo Sai

At the time of the interview in February 2024, Professor Tani’s most recent field research in Iran had taken place from August to September 2023.

For more information about the English-language book mentioned in the interview, published in February 2024, as well as the measurement-based paper on santur mallet technique, published in September 2024, please refer to Professor Tani’s website.

Professor Masato Tani’s website:
https://www2.kobe-u.ac.jp/~tanimast/