Razbar
The best daf videos
Razbar Ensemble was founded in 1997 in Bonn, Germany, and it's primary goal is to
present the sacred music of the Ahl-e Haqq, whose extraordinarily rich repertoire is
derived from its deep roots in ancient spiritual and artistic traditions. From the outset of
their artistic career, the Razbar Ensemble has drawn its motivation from the audience,
who has been especially enthusiastic about discovering this previously unknown style of
music.
The repertoire consists of a rich heritage of sacred texts and melodies that have been
passed down from generation to generation. The compositions are varied, and there is no
predetermined format for their performance. The texts and melodies are intuitively
arranged, and even the number of musicians, singers, and members of the chorus may
vary from one concert to the next.
The members of the ensemble have no formal musical training but instead have been
raised with this music. Even when they are playing passionately on stage they are engaged
in a devotional state of worship. The Ensemble primarily uses three instruments. The
main instrument is the tanbur, a long-necked lute with three strings that has been in
existence for some two thousands years. This lute acquired a special status in the 15th
century, and has never been played for secular purposes since then. Along with the tanbur,
the daf (frame drum) is used to create merriment and to stir the emotions. The
thundering tones of the daf are unsurpassed by any other kind of drum. These two
instruments are often accompanied by another stringed instrument called the Kamancheh
(fiddle), whose subtle sounds imbue the music with a sense of nostalgia.