Amir Farid plays Javad Maroufi Amir Farid

• Javad Marouf (1912 - 1993):
• 1 Armenian Rhapsody 04:37
• 2 Fantasie 05:54
• 3 Golden Dreams 04:23
• 4 Chargh-e-Esfehan 08:35
• 5 Rumi 01:51
• 6 Jila's Fantasy 05:08
• 7 Kuku 06:42
• 8 Prelude No. 1 03:35
• 9 Prelude No. 2 04:02
• 10 Prelude No. 3 06:05
• 11 Prelude No. 4 03:55
• 12 Prelude No. 5 03:57
• 13 Pish Daramad-e-Esfehan 02:34
• 14 Sari Galianeh 02:52
• Total Runtime 01:04:10

Info for Amir Farid plays Javad Maroufi

Javād Maroufi was one of the first composers of piano music in Persia and celebrated for his contribution to Persian classical music. He was born in Tehran to musician parents Musa Maroufi and Ezra Maroufi – both pupils of renowned master, Darvish Khan. Javad’s mother died when he was young, so he was raised by his father and taught violin and tar from a young age.

Amir Farid says this about the music of Maroufi: "Ever since the release of Veiled Virtuosity, my first solo album on the Move Records label, it has been apparent that the inclusion of two of Javad Maroufi’s works for piano on that album proved to be popular amongst listeners.

"It was when my good friend Richard Mitchell approached me with the idea to devote an entire album to Maroufi’s output that this project came to life. Working on this project has made me realise how engrained Maroufi’s work has been in my own life, and within Persian (Iranian) culture in general.

"Several of his works were amongst the first I ever performed in public as a child, and his recordings would constantly be playing in the household. Being exposed to the sounds of Maroufi throughout my life has made this project both a joy and an immense challenge. After years of intense training as a Classical pianist, it has been difficult to realise the authentic folk-like roots of Maroufi’s work without the interference of other influences. Although the Western influences on Maroufi’s music are apparent and obvious, especially the works of Chopin, it is the fusion with traditional Persian music that truly makes this pioneering composer’s work unique.

"I must add that although a lot of his music is indeed notated and published, they only serve as a very rough guide to the final product heard in Maroufi’s playing, and arguably in any successful performance of his work. The improvisatory and freestyle aspect is an essential part of his music, and the challenge here lies in going beyond what’s on the page, while never drifting too far to make the work unidentifiable. Right-hand tremolos, heard frequently throughout this album, imitate the Santur, a Persian dulcimer. This technique (not without its RSI-related challenges!) is engrained in Maroufi’s playing style, as is his gifted ability to freely improvise in a style similar to that heard in a traditional Persian ensemble. My aim has been to replicate this style as authentically as possible, but not without my own insights and influences. I hope this album brings as much pleasure to you as a listener as it did to me during its creation."

“...an accomplished young musician. Farid’s experience in accompaniment and in chamber music has helped him develop a sensitivity for texture and colour that translates well to his solo playing...” (Tony Way, The Age - Green Guide)

“Amir Farid is a highly creative musician - a pianist of great intelligence and integrity. He brings strong musical substance to all that he does, imbuing it with his own particular experience and understanding.” (David Lockett, Chair of the Adjudicators at the 2006 Australian National Piano Award)

Amir Farid, piano

Amir Farid
Pianist Amir Farid has been described as "a highly creative musician - a pianist of great intelligence and integrity. He brings strong musical substance to all that he does, imbuing it with his own particular experience and understanding", and who "in a well populated field...distinguishes himself for all the right reasons". Winner of the 2006 Australian National Piano Award.

In 2004 Mr. Farid completed his B.Mus (Hon) at the University of Melbourne under the guidance of Ronald Farren-Price, and later attended the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) studying with Rita Reichman, the late Geoffrey Tozer and Timothy Young. In 2009, he graduated with distinction as a Scholar supported by the Gordon Calway Stone Memorial Award at the Royal College of Music London, studying with Andrew Ball.

He has performed concerti with the Sydney Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Melbourne Youth and ANAM Orchestras, including Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl with the Melbourne Symphony in front of a capacity 13,000 strong crowd. Collaborations with conductors include Graham Abbott, Peter Bandy, Alexander Briger, Oleg Caetani, Brett Dean, Marko Letonja and Benjamin Northey.

As a chamber musician, Mr. Farid is pianist of the acclaimed Benaud Trio (www.benaudtrio.com), winning the Piano Trio prize at the 2005 Australian Chamber Music Competition, and with whom he undertook a residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada.

As an associate artist, he was winner of the prize for best pianist at the 2006 Mietta Song Recital award, and the 2007 Geoffrey Parsons Award. Collaborations include cellists Alexander Baillie, Mats Lidstrom and Martin Loveday, saxophonist Claude Delangle, clarinetist Dong Jun-Mo, contralto Liane Keegan, pianist Max Olding, soprano Merlyn Quaife, the Tin Alley String Quartet and mezzo-soprano Pamela Turner.

Throughout his studies, Mr. Farid has participated in lessons and masterclasses with Michele Campanella, Aquiles Delle Vigne, Nikolai Demidenko, Christopher Elton, Gordon Fergus-Thompson, Cord Garben, Mark Gasser, Angela Hewitt, Ian Holtham, Leslie Howard, Julian Jacobson, Geoffrey Lancaster, Stephen McIntyre, Malcolm Martineau, Dominique Merlet, Hamish Milne, Lisa Moore, Ian Munro, Ruth Nye, Adrian Oetiker, Max Olding, Bart van Oort, Christina Ortiz, John Perry, Geoffrey Saba, Natasha Vlassenko, Frank Wibaut, Gerard Willems, Oxana Yablonskaya and John York.

Mr. Farid would like to acknowledge the support and generosity of the following organizations and individuals: Mr. Neville Arthur, the Australia Business Arts Foundation, the Australian Music Foundation, the Australian National Academy of Music, Mr. John Garran, Mrs. Lois Goodin, Mrs. Heather de Haes, the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, the Royal College of Music, The Swiss Global Artistic Foundation, the Tait Memorial Foundation, the Turnbull Family and the University of Melbourne.

This album contains no booklet.