Hooshang Kamkar - Part 02 - هوشنگ کامکار - قسمت دوم

Kamkar, Hooshang (born Feb. 25, 1946) Iranian contemporary composer

Childhood and Educations
He was born in Sanandaj, the center of the Kurdistan Province of Iran. he learned the first principles of music in his birthplace from his father, master Hassan Kamkar. After passing the course of high school in the field of Natural Science he left Sanandaj for Tehran and for two years under the supervision of Master Dehlavi he studied in the nocturnal classes of the conservatory of music. Then he returned to Sanandaj as an expert in music and started to teach music in the classes of culture and art. Hooshang Kamkar in 1972 entered the Faculty of Fine Arts of Tehran University and received his B.A. certificate with the highest degree from Tehran University.
Then with the scholarship that the Italian government presented him, he departed to Italy and stayed there for one year and a half to study in the Santachi Chilean Rome Conservator the technics of “Counter Point” and “Fugue”.
In 1976 he left Iran for the USA and received his Master of Art in music from the State University of San Francisco, USA, in the branch of the history of music.

Professional Activities
Kamkar came back to Iran in 1979 and for a while, he taught music at the Farabi University and Faculty of Fine Arts of Tehran University. Then he worked for eleven years as a member of the scientific board of Art University and undertook the management of the music group of the university within the years of 1993 and 1999, but due to misconduct of the heads of the university and the low quality of the subjects of teaching he withdrew from his position and asked resignation.
At the present time, he is the manager of the Kamkars’ Music Group and the manager of Kamkars’ open music conservatory in Tehran. He also for around 6 years was the manager of the Symphonic Orchestra of Bahman Farhangsara (House of Culture). During his management, he held high-class concerts with the presence and participation of prominent Iranian and foreign conductors.
Hooshang Kamkar at the present time is a member of the supreme council of the House of Music and the council for evaluating the works of artists in the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

His Works
As Composer
1. Ringlet, a poem by Moshfeq Kashani
2. Bahman Victory
3. The music of the film “The Bridge of Freedom”, directed by Mehdi Madani; on the occasion of Freeing Khoramshahr from Occupation
4. The piece of “Where Are You, O the Heavenly Martyrs?”, on the basis of Maulana Jalaleddin Rumi’s Poem
5. In the Rose Garden on the basis of Sohrab Sepehri Poem
6. A Poeme Symphony under the name of “The Spring Has Arrived”, On the basis of folkloric Kurdish melodies and poems
7. At the Top of the Dawn, a melody making
8. In Reminiscence of Hafez, on the basis of Hafez poems
9. Mystical Dance of Mystics, Maulana poems
10. Rhythmic Mystical Dance for various percussions
11. Nightsome, Nima Youshij Poems
12. Music of Shahrzad Ballet under the name of “The Tale of 2001 Nights”, directed by Abdolhalim Kara Kala from Lebanon
13. Poeme, a Kurdish Symphony on the basis of Kurdish Melodies
14. From Far to Near, on the basis of the old to the contemporary poets
15. Poem symphony of Maulana poetry
16. Khatoon, on the basis of Kurdish poems of Abdollah Peh Shiv
17. Interlunar, on the basis of Iranian contemporary poets
18. Poem symphony. On the occasion of Freeing Khorramshahr and Halabcheh from occupation
19. The Song of Peace, single song: the poems of Sadi and Baba Taher
20. A Story but Not Very Fresh, in commemoration of Mohammad Reza Lotfi on the basis of Niam Uoushij’s poems
21. Pejman’s Rose Gardens, Melody Making in commemoration of Ahmad Pejamn
22. Migration of the Lilacs, on the basis of the poems of Master Shafiei Kadkani
23. The Chooar Bakh Alleys, Melody Making and Orchestra in performance
24. Poem symphony, the reminiscence of the unknown soldier, Orchestral Music, in performance
25. If the World Comes to End”, on the basis of the poems of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi and Bijan Jalali, in performance

Translation and Composition
• The Principles of Orchestration, by Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov, Tehran: Chang publication, 1983
• Fugue and Invention by John Voral, the main technics for music composition in theory and in practice, Tehran: Part Publication, 1991
• The 20th Century Harmony, by Vincent Persichetti, Tehran: Honar University, 1996
• Counterpoint Modal (on the basis of 16th century music manner), David Dodge Boyden, Tehran: Honar University, 1998
• Classic and Romantic Music, Honar University Publication. Tehran: 2001
• Orchestration Kent Kennan, Afkar Publication, Tehran: 1993
• Counterpoint Tehran, Walter Piston, Honar University Publication
• Modern Music: A popular Guide to Greater Musical Enjoyment, by John Howard, Tehran: Honar Publication