Barbad

Barbad was a legendary Persian musician, poet, and music theorist. He lived during the Sasanian Empire, which lasted from 224 to 651 CE. He is widely regarded as a major figure in the history of Persian music. Many people even call him the founder of Persian music.

As a highly skilled minstrel, he served the Shahanshah, or king of kings, Khosrow II. In the Sasanian court, there was very little distinction between music and poetry. Musicians like Barbad acted as both performers and court poets. His influence was so great that he inspired many musicians who lived centuries later.

Barbad was a master of the barbat, a stringed instrument. He was also a composer of many different types of music. His works included panegyrics, which are songs of praise. He also composed elegies, which are songs for mourning or remembrance.

These songs were performed at important events like Nowruz and Mehregan. These were major festivals in the Sasanian Empire. He also performed at state banquets and celebrations for military victories. His compositions covered many topics, from historical epics to songs about the royal court.

Scholars have tried to categorize his many musical works. The ethnomusicologist Hormoz Farhat suggested different groupings for Barbad's music. Some were epic forms based on historical events, such as "kin-i Iraj." Others were songs connected to the Sasanian royal court, like "Bagh-i shirin." There were also descriptive compositions, such as "roshan charagh."

One specific work, "Bag-e nakjiran," was written for workers who finished the gardens at Qasr-e Shirin. While most of his music is lost, the titles of these pieces remain in history.

Because very few Sasanian records discuss Barbad directly, his fame likely spread through oral tradition. This means stories about him were told by mouth for many generations. Eventually, these stories were written down by later poets and historians. The most famous accounts appear in the "Shahnameh," written by the poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. Other important sources include the writings of al-Tha'alibi and Nezami Ganjavi.

Although these stories often include legendary or mythological details, most scholars believe Barbad was a real historical person. His name appears in many forms in Arabic records, such as "Fahl(a)bad" or "Bahr(a)bad."

Many famous legends surround Barbad's career and his relationship with Khosrow II. One story says he gained his position by hiding in a royal garden. He wore green clothes to blend in with the plants. He sang three songs, including "Sabz dar sabz," which means "green in the green." Khosrow II was so impressed that he named Barbad the "shah-i ramishgaran," or chief minstrel. Another legend tells of Barbad using music to solve a dangerous problem. When the king's horse, Shabdiz, died, the court was too afraid to tell the king. Barbad sang a sad song instead. By using music, he allowed the king to acknowledge the death without anyone breaking the law.

Barbad's life ended in ways that are also described in conflicting stories. Some accounts say he rushed to the capital, Ctesiphon, after the murder of Khosrow II. According to Ferdowsi, Barbad sang elegies and cut off his fingers out of respect. Other sources suggest he died due to conflict with other musicians. One account says he was poisoned by a rival named Sarkash. Another says Barbad actually poisoned Sarkash but was spared from punishment. Regardless of the specific details, his death marked the end of a monumental era in Persian culture.

Barbad's legacy is tied to the very structure of Persian music. He is traditionally credited with creating an organized modal system. This system, known as the "maqam" system in later traditions, uses specific musical modes to express different emotions. He was also a pioneer in setting music to poetry to represent a character's feelings. This was a new idea in his time. Today, Barbad remains a celebrated figure in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. His life shows how music can influence politics, diplomacy, and the way people share their history.