This program of lectures and concert honors the musical contributions of Morteza Neydavoud (1900-1990), an Iranian Jewish composer who was a pivotal figure in the development of Iranian music in the first half of the twentieth century. His long list of famous compositions includes the song Morgh-e Sahar (The Bird of Aurora), which is still a central piece in the repertoire of Iranian traditional urban music. Among his well-known students was the legendary singer, Qamar-ol-Moluk Vaziri (1905-1959), who is an unparalleled Iranian female singer.

The event will feature presentations by scholars who will set the context for Neydavoud’s life and delve more deeply into his work. It will culminate in a concert of his music, followed by a kosher for Passover reception. We are proud to announce that several members of the extended family of Morteza Neydavoud will be present at this event.

This event is made possible by the Lowell Milken Fund for American Jewish Music at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. It is co-sponsored by UCLA Iranian Studies.