Sima Bina - Iranian Lullabies

In more than thirty years of research during which I have been collecting Persian folksongs, I have often come across a variety of ethnic tunes of lullabies. I even arranged and recorded some of the more elaborated ones along with my folksongs.
I soon realized that these plain rhythmic lyrics of mothers’ songs were themselves a unique and invaluable cultural treasure that if not preserved, would be lost to future children. What I came to appreciate most was the abundance and variety of Persian lullabies. Therefore, I vigorously started to devote a portion of my research time to recording and restoring the lullabies across the vast plateau of Iran. In my initial steps I found that this treasure would have to be dug out from under layers and layers of time and that I often would have to sit in the presence of old grandmothers, hoping they would recollect these almost forgotten tunes.


Contents

Foreword: Jahangir Shahdadi

Preface

Part One: Origins and Roots
Part Two: Music
Part Three: Lyrics and Tunes
Part Four: English Translation and Translator’s note
Part Four: The Lullabies

I. Central Provinces – North to South
1. Kerman
2. Qashqaie 1
3. Fars (Shiraz)
4. Tehran 1
5. Markazi (Arak)
6. Markazi (Khomain)
7. Yazd
8. Hamadan (Malayer)
9. Kerman (Sirjan)
10. Tehran 2

II. Eastern Provinces – North to South
1. South Khorasan (Torbat-e Jam) 1
2. South Khorasan (Birjan)
3. North Khorasan (Shirvan – Quchan)
4. Baluchestan
5. Razavi Khorasan (Kashmar – Nishabur)
6. South Khorasan (Khoosf)
7. Razavi Khorasan (Mashhad)
8. South Khorasan (Torbat-e Jam) 2
9. South Khorasan (Torbat-e Jam) 3
10. North Khorasan (Shirvan)

III. Western Provinces
1. Kurdistan (Sanandaj) 1 (Sanandaj) 1
2. Luristan
3. Elam
4. Bakhtiyari
5. Yasooj
6. Kermonshah
7. Kermonshah (West Gilan)
8. Kurdistan
9. Kurdistan (Sanandaj) 2

IV. Northern and Southern Provinces
1. Gilan 1
2. Gilan 2
3. Mazandaran
4. Golestan (Turkeman Sahra)
5. Mazandaran (Tonikabon)
6. Ardabil
7. Qashqaie 2
8. Fars (Fasa)
9. Khuzestan (Dezfool)
10. Bushehr
11. Fars (Sarvestan)