Dariush Safvat Information

Dariush Safvat (28 November 1928 – 17 April 2013) was born in Shiraz, Iran, into a distinguished family with a long tradition of music and scholarship. His father, Ali Asghar Safvat, was an accomplished setar player and introduced him to the instrument at an early age. Safvat later studied with some of the most renowned masters of Persian classical music, including Habib Samaei, Abolhasan Saba, and Haji Agha Mohammad Irani Mojarrad.

In 1953, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Tehran. His passion for both music and academia led him to pursue further studies in France, where he obtained a Ph.D. in International Law from the University of Paris in 1965. He also attended the Institute of Musicology in Paris, deepening his understanding of Persian and Eastern musical traditions.

Career and Contributions
Safvat dedicated his life to the preservation and promotion of Persian traditional music. In 1968, he founded the Center for the Preservation and Research of Music in Tehran, also known as the Center for the Preservation and Dissemination of Music. Under his leadership, this institution played a crucial role in reviving and sustaining Iran’s classical music tradition at a time when modernization threatened to erode it.

He mentored some of the most distinguished musicians of the 20th century, including Parviz Meshkatian, Majid Kiani, Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Hossein Alizadeh, Hossein Omoumi, Parisa, Jalal Zolfonoun, Dariush Tala’i, and many others. Through his teachings, he emphasized the spiritual and philosophical dimensions of Persian music, viewing it not merely as an art form but as a medium for self-discovery and transcendence.

In addition to his work in Iran, Safvat conducted research and taught internationally. He held teaching positions at:

The National Music Conservatory of Tehran (1958–1959)
The Institute of Musicology at the Sorbonne, Paris (1959–1965)
The Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran (1965–2003)
The University of Art, Tehran (from 1979)
The College of Television and Cinema, Tehran (1977–1980)
The Faculty of Cultural Heritage, Tehran (1989)
He also organized concerts, lectures, and workshops across Europe and North America to introduce Persian music to global audiences.

Publications and Legacy
Dariush Safvat was a prolific writer and researcher, publishing extensively in Persian, French, and English. His major works include:

Mysticism and Persian Music (Persian, 1969; English, 1985; French, 1988)
A Brief Study on Iranian Music Masters and Melodies (Persian, 1971)
The Musical Treatise of Bana’i (co-edited with Taqi Binish, Persian, 1989)
In addition to books and articles, he produced numerous recordings of Persian classical music, helping to document and preserve Iran’s rich musical heritage.

Awards and Recognition
In 2005, the French government awarded Safvat the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters), one of France’s highest cultural honors. He was also a member of the Academy of Sciences of the Islamic Republic of Iran and an honorary professor at multiple Iranian universities.

Final Years and Death
In his later years, Safvat remained dedicated to teaching and research, continuing to shape the next generation of Persian musicians. He passed away on 17 April 2013 in Karaj, Iran, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy in Persian traditional music.

His contributions continue to inspire musicians and scholars worldwide, ensuring that the deep, spiritual essence of Persian music endures for future generations.