We Came to Watch the Garden with a Setar

Richie Boroumand's music on Facebook (Radio Farda is not responsible for the content of other websites). Richie Boroumand, born in 1975 in Chicago, USA, spent his childhood and teenage years in Tehran and then migrated back to the USA to continue his education in telecommunications engineering. He currently resides in Maryland, USA. Richie began his music career with traditional music, although he believes that his interest in Western music has significantly influenced his work. He has tried to incorporate elements of traditional music such as various ornaments, vocal stretches, and melodic motifs into his work to create a new design that sounds fresh to the audience. Richie Boroumand strives to infuse his works with the essence and flavor of Iran. He says, "Being far from the land where you grew up makes a person thirstier for their culture and roots; it may be an exploration to reach historical and national identity, to understand who you are and where you came from. Music, singing, and Persian poetry serve as a bridge for me. The remedy for the pain of the eager cannot be known by a general physician unless Layla treats the sorrow of the mad Majnun!" Most of Richie's works are recorded in an attic room facing a window through which one can observe the four seasons. Occasionally, he recites the poetry of his works himself, such as his recent piece "A Song to the Ear of the Garden," recorded with Kimia Arsani on cello and Nader Davari on guitar. He has done the arrangement and mixing of this piece himself in the same attic room. Boroumand has had an interest in poetry and classical music since his teenage years. His acquaintance with the setar introduced him to a different world. An event that changed Richie's life; "I saw a setar for the first time at a friend's house. The first stroke I made on its strings took me to a place where I must confess I still feel the same sensation as that first day." Richie studied the setar and the Mirza Abdullah repertoire with Masoud Shahyari at the age of 18 and learned the fundamentals of traditional music from him. He then traveled to the USA to continue his studies. After completing his education, he briefly attended private sessions with Master Mohammad Reza Lotfi in Berkeley. Later, studying under Master Keyvan Saket in Virginia, USA, regarding compound playing and composition, further acquainted him with traditional Iranian music. Richie believes that stagnation in style is not permissible in his works. He says, "Behind every work, there is a feeling; this feeling can stem from a glance, a sound, a text, or any event happening around us. In 'Passing,' this event unconsciously gives birth to the work's essence from within the person, and along this path, it is consciously directed towards the desired final form. From my perspective, that 'passing' is the most important and determining stage in the creation of an artistic work. The deeper the connection, the more desirable the outcome will be. The work of art is to make the audience think and reflect and create a space for the imagination to soar. In this flight of imagination, the audience can even surpass the creator of the work and step into realms that are boundless and without borders, which is one of the most prominent characteristics of art." He also attempts to use non-Iranian instruments in his works to create a new space for the audience. Richie believes this should be done with an understanding of the capabilities and sound range of the instrument. He appreciates the voices of Shajarian, Taherzadeh, Eghbal Azar, and Ghamar and likes the instruments of Master Ebadi, Saba, Zolfaqar, and Masoud Shahyari. Various works by Richie have been published on YouTube and SoundCloud, but he has not yet attempted to release a collection of his works on CD. Works such as 'To the Sound of Leaves,' 'Blue,' and 'Shouri in Blues' can be heard on YouTube and SoundCloud.