SAEDNEWS: Gilan Province, in northern Iran with Rasht as its capital, is famous for its warm, hospitable people who lovingly preserve and pass down their rich traditions from generation to generation.
The culture of the Iranian people has long been intertwined with music, singing, and dance, and this connection manifests uniquely in every region of the country. Folk songs and melodies hold special significance, each reflecting a vast array of customs and the cohesive cultural identity of its people. Traditional songs and melodies, especially those from the lush region of Gilan, generally have no single known composer. The province of Gilan is home to one of the richest repositories of musical culture in Iran.
Gilan Province, located in northern Iran with Rasht as its capital, is renowned for its warm, hospitable, and kind-hearted people. The inhabitants have preserved the rich customs and traditions inherited from their ancestors and continue to pass them on to future generations.
Gilanis have always been at the forefront of adhering to traditions and reviving cultural practices. Throughout the year, with the arrival of each occasion or festival, the province adopts a distinct atmosphere reflecting the specific event.
One of the most recognizable traits of the people of Gilan is their lively and joyful disposition, which is prominently expressed through Gilanian music and dance. Dancers often wear smiles and convey their enthusiasm through upbeat northern melodies.
Some researchers distinguish between the music of eastern and western Gilan. Vocal music is more prevalent in the eastern foothills, while instrumental music dominates central and western Gilan. However, both types are integrated across regions and form a unified musical tradition. A notable feature is that the lyrics of vocal music—transmitted orally from generation to generation—vary so significantly in dialect and language across different areas of Gilan that even neighboring communities may find them difficult to understand. These songs are performed in diverse dialects, including Talysh (west, northwest, and southwest Gilan), Gilaki (foothill regions), Kurmanji (Amarlu region), Tati (Rudbar), Illy (Gypsy communities), and Kurdish (Gavmishban).
Gilaki music is a remarkable fusion of joy and sorrow. Even in its most heart-wrenching melodies, traces of hope and enthusiasm can be detected—a reflection of the resilience of Gilan’s people throughout tragic historical events. The grandeur and steadfastness of resistance in the face of calamities, uprisings, and repeated losses are embedded in the melodies of Gilan. Gilaki music is rich with danceable and joyful tunes performed during traditional ceremonies, capable of stirring every fiber of one’s being. Yet, the enduring aspect of Gilaki music lies in its melancholic compositions. The timelessness of this music is rooted in these sorrowful works, which have become deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of the region.
Many folk songs are sung by the people of Gilan. Agricultural and farming songs are generally performed by women, while some call-and-response songs are shared between men and women, including popular pieces such as Deh Gote Manam, Ahe Begoo, Layla and Majnun, Ostieh Khanom, Si Jani, and Azab Lako.
A category of songs sung exclusively by women is known as Gahvareh Seri (or Gare Seri), which falls under subgenres and traditional folk songs.
Numerous instruments used in Gilaki music are the creative inventions of the region’s talented people, whose sounds have resonated through generations, showcasing Gilan’s cultural richness and authenticity.
Nini: A traditional and native instrument of Gilan, often found in every household, recognized as the oldest musical instrument of the region.
Kamancheh: A bowed string instrument with ancient origins in Gilan, now widely used in various Iranian traditional music genres. In Gilaki music, it is typically paired with the sorna.
Naqqareh: A percussion instrument resembling a drum, traditionally made of copper and sometimes clay, reflecting the artistic ingenuity of Gilanis.
Horn (Kornay-e Shakhi): Historically used to scare wild animals from fields and pastures, rooted in the untamed natural environment of Gilan.
Sorna: One of the oldest wind instruments, prevalent from India to Greece. In Iran, references to the sorna date back to the Sassanian period, and it is mentioned in Farabi’s Kitab al-Musiqi al-Kabir, accompanied by illustrations. The instrument is typically played with a drum and is present in celebrations of joy, mourning, warfare, and various ethnic and religious ceremonies.
