‏Riza Mahjubi

Mahjubi, Riza (1898-1954)

Violinist and composer. Born into a family of musicians, Riza was the elder brother of Murtaza Mahjubi, one of the most prominent musicians in the Golha programmes. He studied with Husayn Khan Isma‘ilzada and made a name for himself as a prodigy on the violin at the age of sixteen. He was psychologically challenged from the age of twenty-five due to physical and mental complications and so his artistic career was cut short. However, some of his compositions are regarded as comprising some of the most beautiful works in Persian classical music, being imbued with a rare mystical passion and delicacy. Amongst these works, mention may be made of Khamush (“Silence”) which was arranged for the Golha orchestra by Javad Ma‘rufi in 1959; for  this piece Kiyumars Vuthuqi wrote the lyrics and Ilahi and Shahidi performed on the vocals. This performance received particular encouragement and admiration on the part of Davud Pirniya. The classical lyrical song titled Karavan (“Caravan”) composed by Murtaza Mahjubi, whose lyrics were written by Rahi Mu‘ayyiri and the vocals performed by Banan, was composed in the memory of this artist and his tragic life. His students include Majid Vafadar. His works include Pishdaramad-i Dashti (Prelude to Dashti) published in the book entitled Hijdah Qit‘a-yi Pishdaramad (Eighteen Prelude Pieces, Tehran: Mufakhkham 1949).