Country : Iran / Québec Label : Latitude 45 Genres and styles : classique persan / Musiques du Monde Year : 2024

Amir Amiri Ensemble – Ajdad Ancestors : Echoes of Persia

· by Frédéric Cardin

The Amir Amiri Ensemble is a collective of the finest Persian musicians based in Montreal. Many of these musicians are internationally renowned, including Amiri, who is an international authority on his instrument, the santur. This makes the Quebec metropolis a beacon that attracts many musical travelers, sometimes uprooted from their national origins (for all sorts of reasons) and in search of a welcoming home for themselves, their families and their art. 

In short, the Persian music scene is very strong in Montreal, and this album by santur master Amir Amiri, with his colleagues Reza Abaee on ghaychak, Omar Abu Afach on viola, Abdul-Wahab Kayyali on oud and Hamin Honari on percussion (tombak, dayereh and daf) is a magnificent vehicle for a rich, age-old and beautiful art.

The themes speak of cultural roots, ties with ancestors, new friendships, uprooting, etc., all matters that inevitably permeate the lives of artists exiled to new lands. Having seen them more than once in concert, I can confirm the very high technical and musical level of all the artists in this ensemble. The music created here (sometimes original, sometimes based on traditional tunes) is refined, complex and often bewitching to our Western ears. Lovers of both traditional/art world music and Western classical music will be particularly enchanted by Echoes of Persia. 

A special mention for the album cover, signed by Montreal-based Iranian visual artist Marjane Saidi. A magnificent painting entitled Treasure in the Garden was used, and makes you want to check out her portfolio

Echoes of Persia is a positive testimony to the incredible human and cultural wealth that welcoming newcomers offers Quebec and Canada, treasures that can then be redistributed to the whole world.  

Latest 360 Content

Festival des Saveurs | Carminda Mac Lorin, The Woman of Many Hats

Festival des Saveurs | Carminda Mac Lorin, The Woman of Many Hats

SAT X EAF | Amselysen and The Ideal Perfume of A Serial Killer

SAT X EAF | Amselysen and The Ideal Perfume of A Serial Killer

Festival Classica 2025 | Women’s Cellos

Festival Classica 2025 | Women’s Cellos

Nuits d’Afrique 2025: ALL About The Program

Nuits d’Afrique 2025: ALL About The Program

Festival Classica: An Ode to Hope with Elvira Misbakhova

Festival Classica: An Ode to Hope with Elvira Misbakhova

Festival des Saveurs | Aldo Guizmo Goes “Str8 Forward”

Festival des Saveurs | Aldo Guizmo Goes “Str8 Forward”

Deafhaven – Lonely People with Power

Deafhaven – Lonely People with Power

Transforming Hiroshima mon amour into contemporary opera: Christian Lapointe and Rosa Lind tell the story

Transforming Hiroshima mon amour into contemporary opera: Christian Lapointe and Rosa Lind tell the story

Sparks – MAD!

Sparks – MAD!

“Hiroshima, mon amour”: An Evening to Remember

“Hiroshima, mon amour”: An Evening to Remember

Peter Murphy – Silver Shade

Peter Murphy – Silver Shade

Ken Pomeroy – Cruel World

Ken Pomeroy – Cruel World

Art of the Line: Klangkarussell’s Euro Vision at SAT

Art of the Line: Klangkarussell’s Euro Vision at SAT

Festival des Saveurs | Closing With Reggae

Festival des Saveurs | Closing With Reggae

Centroamérica – a powerful docu-play about truth and connection in an age of distance and denial

Centroamérica – a powerful docu-play about truth and connection in an age of distance and denial

Lido Pimienta – La Belleza

Lido Pimienta – La Belleza

Tamir Barzilay – Phosphene Journal

Tamir Barzilay – Phosphene Journal

The best ‘’Candlelight concert‘’ ever.

The best ‘’Candlelight concert‘’ ever.

Men I Trust – Equus Caballus

Men I Trust – Equus Caballus

The Halluci Nation – Path of the Baby Face

The Halluci Nation – Path of the Baby Face

A lap steel guitar choir and an angel to end the Innovations en concert 24-25 season

A lap steel guitar choir and an angel to end the Innovations en concert 24-25 season

The OSM and Abel Selaocoe: Evenings When You’d Like to Stop Time

The OSM and Abel Selaocoe: Evenings When You’d Like to Stop Time

Reaching for the sky: Francis Choinière’s challenge to end his OPCM’s 10th season

Reaching for the sky: Francis Choinière’s challenge to end his OPCM’s 10th season

Subscribe to our newsletter