The Rokh Project (originally Rokhs) was founded in the winter of 2021, born from a shared desire to explore and perform pieces from the Persian classical repertoires. Rejecting constraints of specific periods or regions within the Iranian world, the musicians sought to uncover and highlight the aesthetic threads that unite these diverse traditions.
Through this exploration, they have developed a distinctive musical language expressed in both their original works and their reimagined arrangements.
The Quartet brings to life the multifaceted essence of Persian classical music, weaving its intricate influences and expressions into original compositions and innovative arrangements. With a deep and inspired sensibility, they reveal the timeless beauty and versatility of this rich musical tradition.
Inspired by the 12th-century Persian Sufi poet Farid al-Din Attâr’s The Conference of the Birds, each instrument in the ensemble embarks on its own unique journey while contributing to the creation of a unified and collective sound. This interplay mirrors the spiritual quest for singularity within a harmonious whole.
The name Rokh رُخ also evokes the mythical bird of Persian and Indian folklore, a symbol of grandeur and transcendence that reflects the ensemble’s artistic vision.
The oud work is now shared between Yasamin Shahhosseini and Ava Arehsazan and some times both of them perform with the quartet to make a quintet.
