Bijan Mortazavi (???? ?????? , born November 15, 1957) is a popular Iranian violinist, singer and songwriter. Although his albums are banned in Iran his instrumental pieces aired many times in Iran TV.

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Background

Bijan was born in northern part of Iran, Bijan Mortazavi started playing the violin at the tender age of three. In Tehran, he was trained by five well-known violinists learning specific techniques, such as improvisation, orchestration, arrangement, quarter tone, dastgah, etc.

At the young age of seven, he started his training in playing the piano, guitar, percussion, and folklore string instruments, such as oud, tar, and santur. Bijan won first prize among students of all ages national contest in Iran at age eleven. He was fourteen, when he assembled a thirty two man orchestra, performing his own compositions and arrangements at the famous Ramsar Summer Camp in Iran.

After having graduated from high school Bijan moved to the United Kingdom. There, he pursued his academic interest in the field of Civil Engineering while continuing with his performances and his violin training. ^[1]

Early years

In 1979, Bijan moved to the United States, continued his music education at the Texas State University, and settled in California in 1985. There he started composing and arranging music for Iranian pop singers he became famous as a composer for the songs he composed for the famous Iranian singer Moein he composed many songs for him and played violin in his concerts and learned the art of singing from him. He released his first album "Bijan Mortazavi his music and his songs" in 1990, which was a best seller among Persian albums that year. ^[2]

Music career

After release of the album "Bijan Mortazavi 3" most of Iranian considered Bijan as a talented violinist and singer. His next album "Fire on Ice (instrumental) which was a combination of Persian violin style and New Age instrumental music brought him fame but he never composed a separate instrumental album again, so the success didn`t repeat. After that, Bijan released two other albums which were not as successful.

On 2004 Bijan relleased the album "Ye Ghatreh Darya" which was a happy dance album, including a Kurdish style track "Ronak". The album soon became famous and has been played many times in Persian weddings and parties.

The 2006 album was a different album specially in lyrics. The lyrics of this album was written by the famous Iranian poet Iraj Janatie Ataie who writes lyrics for famous Iranian pop singers such as Ebi and Dariush. One of the impressive tracks is "Be man che" which is the name of the album too. It has a very meaningful lyrics and Iraj himself has declaimed the lyrics in the beginning of the track. ^[3]

After the album "Fire on Ice" Bijan albums are a combination of instrumental and vocal pieces. What sets Bijan apart from other performers, is his ability to personally play all the instruments used in his arrangements.

Instrument

Bijan plays a white handmade violin from Shiraz, Iran. "Although the sound of my violin is not very great but I prefer playing it and I do not like to play another. " said Bijan in a TV interview.

Concerts

The international tour beginning in 1990 brought Bijan to sold-out audiences throughout the world. This year he has been honored as the first Iranian artist to be sponsored by the Chrysler Corporations.

Greek Theatre

On July 3, 1994 , Bijan Mortazavi the first Iranian performer to display his talent at the Greek Theatre (Los Angeles). There he performed his music with orchestra for the first time One of the pieces he played during this concert entitled Epic had been written by him when he was eleven years old. This concert became his best live performance and the video had been released as "Bijan Live at the Greek Theatre".

Washington D.C

On October 20, 2007 Bijan played his music in Washington D.C with young Iranian talented violinist and singer Shadmehr Aghili. They played the famous song Ey Iran there as a violin duet which attracted the audiences so much. ^[4]

Discography

Studio album

With Caltex Records

• 1990-The Magic of Bijan Mortazavi his Music and his Songs (Bijan Mortazavi 1)
• 1992-Bijan Mortazavi 2
• 1994-Bijan Mortazavi 3 (instrumental album)
• 1994-Bijan Mortazavi 3 (vocal album)
• 1997-Fire on Ice (instrumental album)
• 1997-Fire on Ice (vocal album)
• 1999-Sweet Scent of Love
• 2001-Voice of Silence
• 2004-Yeh Ghatreh Darya
• 2006-Beh Man Cheh

Live Albums

• 1994-Bijan Live at the Greek Theatre

Videos

• 1994-Bijan Live at the Greek Theatre
• 2004-Bijan in concert

Return to Iran

At the time Mohammad Khatami was president of Iran musicians in Iran became more active, many Iranian artists and musicians who where living outside the country after the Iranian revolution came back and continued their career in their own country.

Bijan Mortazavi, tried to get permission to release an album in Iran, but the Iranian government didn't give him permission to compose and sell his prouduct inside the country. ^[5] He lives in Los Angeles now.

See also

• List of Persian violinists
• Moein
• Iraj Janatie Ataie
• Shadmehr Aghili

References

1. Bijan Mortazavi `s biography
2. Bijan Mortazavi `s biography
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4. Bijan and Shadmehr Live in Concert
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