Javad Badizadeh

Javad Badizadeh (1902 - December 31 1979), a highly influential Iranian musician, song writer and performer, commonly referred to as just Badizadeh and sometimes Master/Maestro/Ostad (Persian word for it) Badizadeh, was a prominent traditional Persian vocalist.

Badizadeh was born in the pachenar neighborhood of Tehran, Iran and was raised in a religious family. His father Seyyed Reza, nicknamed Badi-ul-Motekallemin, was an eloquent orator and one of the active leaders of the Constitution Movement. His mother Zahra Khavari was highly influential in Badizadeh's childhood years. His only siblings that survived past infancy were Batool Badizadeh, Jamal Badizadeh, Masoomeh Badizadeh, Dr. Hashem Badizadeh, Esmat Badizadeh, Badiatozzaman "Badieh" Badizadeh (1917 - March 17, 2007), and Nayereh Badizaeh.

Beginning of Career

Badizadeh was one of the first musicians who performed at Radio Iran and with the National Music Orchestra, conducted by Rouhollah Khaleqi. He had a unique style of singing; he mastered the entire Persian Radif (repertoire or an orderly succession of melodies). Badizadeh learned Dastgah (Iranian music sound system) and Gousheh (sub-Dastgah) from his father and uncle Mirza Yahya Saeed-ul-Vaezin--both were noted musicians of the time.

Education and Further Career

His primary education was at a school run by French teachers. After obtaining a high school diploma from the prestigious Darolfonoun High School, Badizadeh worked as secretary and French translator with commercial companies. He was later employed by the National Consultative Assembly in 1925. In the 1940s, he recorded many of his songs, including Jelve-ye Gol (Face of Flower), Shekve-ye Del (Complaint of Heart) and Bolbol-e Mahbous (Caged Bulbul)--accompanied by Morteza Mahjoubi. He had a good command of the Persian traditional music and was one of the first singers who wrote music for his songs.

Works

Undoubtedly, Badizadeh's most famous song is Khazan e Eshgh (Autumn of Love)--its lyric written by renowned contemporary poet Rahi Moayyeri. Badizadeh also composed several rhythmic and joyful songs, such as Mashin-e Mashdi Mamdali (Mashdi Mamdali’s Car) and Yeki Ye Poul-e Khorus.

Importance in Persian Culture

Maestro Badizadeh was one of the earliest Persian vocalists that paved the way for the kind of classical traditional Persian music (Sonati) that is now prevalent in old Persian radio programs, such as [http://www.radiogolha.com Golha] . The sounds of his voice still evoke wonderful memories from people who can remember his music back in the 40s and 50s.

Badizadeh had few contemporaries who held as much prominence as he did in the world of traditional music during his time and before it. The fact that his works were broadcasted on Radio Iran, Golha, and recorded on vinyl records only further immortalize the legacy in traditional Persian music that Badizadeh has left behind. He will always be remembered as one of the preeminent figures in today's classical Persian music, and thanks to today's mass media, such as the Internet, the works he has written will never be forgotten.