Mahmoud Zoufonoun  

The Association wishes to make hereby some studied observations about the gigantic work printed in 2007 on behalf of  Mahmoud Zoufonoun, and about him, one of the most important musicians of Iran.

Mr. Zoufonoun has spent all his life getting to discover, explore, know and meticulously document the artistic and popular sources of melodies and songs of Persia, in an entirely original work, never undertaken before nor the likes of which ever referred to by foreign references. Mr. Zoufonoun’s work is of considerable importance, in the framework of the philosophy of history, ethnology and music of Iran.

For the first time ever, someone, Mr. Zoufonoun, has succeeded in determining, in a highly applied intelligent manner, the sources of all Persian melodies existing currently. This required visiting each and every region of Iran, developing contacts with various ethnic groups, tribal populations and national civilizations, being well-versed in different languages and familiar with various cultural settings of the Iranian society in mutation, and elaborating specific scientific method.

For the first time ever, someone, Mr. Zoufonoun, has created and prepared for printing a unique encyclopedia in 5 volumes, an incomparable and exceptional document of classic dimension, not only about Iranian national musical context, but also general artistic and musical research methods of the world. In reality then, one can affirm that he is establishing a new scientific methodology based on supreme intimate artistic and musical expression. He himself, being a man of many letters, has well understood the sociological sense of his work, and manages after thirty years, to expose and explain that all this popular music has been elaborated in diverse historical contexts, such that one cannot identify all the inspirations, authors, composers and documenters.

For Mr. Zoufonoun, the origins of Iranian songs and melodies were in fact the local folk, peasants, farmers, artisans, family men. Of the exact inspirations involved, Mr. Zoufonoun believes that Iranian music is but expression by local indigenous folk, wherefrom the originality, variety and precision of the work.

Using his literary knowledge, he succeeds in presenting this music, identifying the note systems and instruments, of which even the recent manifestations, since the beginning of the eighteenth century. Also important is that the authentic literary textual adaptation of the songs with their notes and instruments has an essential importance in Mr. Zoufonoun’s work: this is indeed his passion.

The ACAFI Association is proud to talk of this immense creation, and to further the most cultivated musician in Iran’s history of musical art. Evidently, specialists, performers, poets, all shall study in detail the very elaborate and voluminous work of  Mr. Zoufonoun: it is a veritable reference of high quality. The Association congratulates very warmly this discoverer and his exceptional discovery, and praises the highly elaborate artistic research methods used by him and useful for all academic and musical research into world musical roots.

For all intents and purposes, Mr. Zoufonoun’s work is purely popular, whence the respect that the Iranian people owe to him. The spiritual and artistic contact of this author, with the Iranian people, and his sentiments, his trials, his victories and obstacles, have given birth to this immense literary masterpiece. Mr. Zoufonoun is at the same time the musical child and accomplished genius of Iran; the Association if honored to make this admission.

The work of Mahmoud Zoufonoun could be titled “The sociology of Persian popular music”.

Rouhollah ABBASSI

Honorary judiciary expert before the French Supreme Court

Honorary National Interpreter and Translator before the Court of Appeal of Paris

Member of the French Language Writers’ Guild (adelf)

President of the Franco-Iranian Artistic & Cultural Association (acafi)

Doctor of Letters of Sorbonne University

Artistic and cultural Franco-Iranian Association

A.C.A.F.I.