Healing Power of Persian Music (part 2) ** Shur & Abu Ata

In Persian music and other performing arts, mood is always more important than technique even though amazing and intricate skills are associated with Eastern performing arts. These skills are always subservient to the emotion of the performer whose role is that of a channel bringing expressions from a higher realm to the audience. This point is emphasized by Dr. Safvat.

Other aspects of performance have been discussed by Dr. Safvat. One of these is symmetry which he explains "Creates calmness and eliminates excitement, which is spiritually harmful." He says that repetition "prepares the mind to receive more profound messages. This is why repetition and symmetry are visible in spiritual artwork."

Persian Modes and their properties:

**** SHUR ****

Mood: Burning, Pining, Sympathetic, Sorrowful, Tender, Consoling
Color: Red
Element: Fire

The mode Shur is characterized by burning and pining; it is sympathetic, sorrowful, tender, consoling while it represents intensity and concentration. It's color is red and it's element is fire. It's time is from morning till noon and its mystic connotation is tariqat (the path)

Shur is considered the mother of modes, the modal scale of Shur is G Ap Bp C D- Eb F G with altered notes in modulated sections such as Shahnaz and Bayat Kord. Shur divulges a burning love, waves of love and the whole story of love with all it's joys and sorrows. Interpretation of Shur can portray the emotional intensity of separation from the beloved.

**** Avaz-e-Abu-Ata ****

Mood - Melancholy, moving
Color - Purple or bright coffee color
Element - Earth

Abu Ata is melancholy and moving, Its color is purple or bright coffee and it's element is earth. Its time is noon to 4pm and its mystic connotation ranges from Shariat to Tariqat. Abu Ata divulges experience of past love in an older, wiser representation of love with higher expectations. The modal scale of Abu Ata is G Ap Bp C D Eb F G with an altered E in 'Oshaq.