Simerg is an independent initiative dedicated to Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan — their Hereditary Imam — and the Ismaili Imamat, and Islam in general through literary readings, photo essays and artistic expressions
The website Worldmusiccentral reports that the Aga Khan Master Musicians (AKMM) formed in 2013 by the Aga Khan Music Programme is dominating the world music charts in Europe through their debut album Nowruz. The website goes on to list the top 20 selections for the month of February.
The producer of the album, Smithsonian Folk Ways Recording, says that “In Nowruz, the Aga Khan Master Musicians draw on music from Central Asia, China, the Middle East, and North Africa to create a strikingly original body of work where living musical traditions meet and meld. Acclaimed virtuosos on their respective instruments, the six members of AKMM deftly blend pipa, qanun, dutar, viola d’amore, saxophone, and a panoply of percussion into a soulful new musical language that comes alive in these eloquent performances.”
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Aga Khan Master Musicians performing a mesmerizing selection of compositions at the L’Institut du Monde Arabe on October 18, 2023, in the presence of Prince Amyn Mohamed Aga Khan, younger brother of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. Photograph: AKDN/Thomas Wibaux.
Prince Amyn Mohamed Aga Khan, younger brother of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, delivers remarks at a post-concert reception at L’Institut du Monde Arabe on October 18, 2023.Photograph: AKDN/Thomas Wibaux.
PURCHASE (DOWNLOAD) THE NOWRUZ ALBUM PIECES AT US$0.99 EACH
Aside from the album’s namesake piece, Nowruz, the album consists of 11 other pieces such as Tashkent, Madad, Autum Flowers and Leaves, Ili and Jul Dance. Readers may listen to sample recordings on the Smithsonian Folk Ways website, and download each complete piece at US$0.99.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, seen walking past the water pond of the Park located between the Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum during the opening ceremony in September 2014 of the two cultural gems built by the 49th Ismaili Imam. Photo: The website of the Prime Minister of Canada. See photo and video links below.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper on March 21, 2015 issued the following statement on the celebration of Nowruz:
“Laureen and I would like to offer our best wishes to everyone celebrating Nowruz both here in Canada and around the world.
“Nowruz, or ‘new day,’ is a festival that has been celebrated for thousands of years by Persian, Kurdish, Central Asian and Ismaili communities. It marks the beginning of spring and a New Year, and is an opportunity to reflect upon the past year, recognize good fortune, and look to the year ahead with hope. Our Government shares your optimism for the future and will continue to work to help create a year of peace and prosperity for all Canadians.
“Nowruz traditions include a spring cleaning of the home, preparation of the haft-seen table, the gathering of families and friends to share meals and gifts, as well as musical and dance performances. In addition, shortly before Nowruz bonfires are lit and individuals recite a special phrase that helps to symbolically carry away the hardships of the past year with the flames.
“Nowruz is an opportunity for all Canadians to learn about the ancient Persian festival and recognize the important contributions of Iranian-Canadian, Central Asian and Ismaili communities to building a peaceful, pluralistic and prosperous Canada.
“On behalf of all Canadians, I wish everyone celebrating Nowruz a happy and healthy New Year.
“Nowruzetan Pirouz!”
For more photos and a comprehensive 10 minute video of the opening ceremony of the Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, please click on the following links:
MESSAGES BY FIRST LADY, MRS MICHELLE OBAMA, AND PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
President Barack Obama hugs First Lady Michelle Obama in the Red Room of the White House prior to the National Newspaper Publishers Association reception on March 20, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Excerpts from remarks by the First Lady, Mrs. Michelle Obama, at the White House on March 11, 2015:
“I think it’s so fitting that we’re holding this celebration here today because one of my favorite things about the White House is how it is truly the People’s House — a house that reflects the diversity of culture and traditions that make us who we are as a country. And Nowruz is one of those traditions.
“For more than 3,000 years, families and communities in the Middle East, Asia, and all around the world, including here in the United States, have celebrated this holiday to mark the renewal of the earth in springtime — and we’re finally feeling spring! To reflect on the year before, and to make new commitments for good health, prosperity in the year ahead.
“And just like in many of your homes, we have created our own White House Haft-Seen. As you all know, Haft-Seen [see Simerg’s piece The Beautiful Nowruz (Navroz) Tradition of Haft Sin – ed.] essentially means “Seven S’s,” and each “S” represents a different hope for the New Year — a hope for blessings like patience and love and sweetness. For example, we’ve got grass sprouts that represent rebirth and renewal of nature. We’ve got an apple for health and beauty. We have crushed berry spice that represents the sunrise and the spice of life.”
To celebrate Navroz, families in Iran gather around a specially prepared holiday table to make wishes for the coming months. Items on the table refer to new life and renewal, and they are based around the number seven….Read more
Conceived and created by Nurin Merchant, this Navroz greeting incorporates the rose and jasmine flowers which are extremely popular in Iran during the celebration of Navroz. The base of the picture shows shoots of wheat grass signifying robust evergreen health throughout the year. Image: Nurin Merchant. Copyright. Please click on image for Haft Sin.
Date first posted: Friday, March 20, 2015. Last updated: March 15, 2019.
The United Nations General Assembly on 23 February 2010 recognized 21 March as the International Day of Nowruz, a spring festival of Persian origin, as it continued its sixty-fourth session.
A few weeks later in the same year, the US House of Representatives approved a resolution recognizing that Nowruz embodies the tradition that each individual’s thinking, speaking, and conduct should always be virtuous. The resolution also expressed appreciation to Iranian Americans for their contributions to society, and wishing Iranian Americans and the people of Iran a good new year.
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