Jashn-e sadeh concert: Iranian classical and folk music

When: Sat 31 January 2015 19:00-22:00
Where: Lucas Lecture Theatre (ex G2)

http://www.thesantur.com/ 

You are cordially invited to a concert of Persian classical music in celebration of the ancient Jashn-e sadeh, organised by Peyman Heydarian and the SOAS Iranian music Society.

Date: Saturday 31 January 2015

Time: Doors open from 6.30pm. Concert starts at 7.00pm

Venue: Lucas Lecture Theatre (formerly G2), SOAS University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG, UK

The programme starts with a 10-min description of the ancient "Sadeh" celebrations by Iranian scholar, Dr M. Kavir and will be followed by live music.

Ticket prices are £15 Regular / £10 Students and Unwaged / £6 SOAS students 

About Jashn-e Sadeh:
Legends of how man learned to make fire are as numerous as there are ancient nations. The most striking is the Iranian legend, preserved, among other writings, in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh. To put it in short: Fire was accidentally discovered when a flint-axe, thrown by King Hushang to kill a snake, missed and struck a rock and threw a spark. That sparked the idea to kindle fire by striking two pieces of flint together. This theory is confirmed by archeologists to be the most probable means of its discovery in the early stone stage.
Hushang, the Iranian legend says, celebrated the discovery by throwing a feast, a feast that has been kept alive through ages. It is held every year on 10 Bahman (30 January), almost mid-winter. It is called “Sadeh,” meaning "century" because according to one popular tradition, it falls on the hundredth day from 21 October, the beginning of winter among ancient Iranians. Another explanation is that it is 50 nights and 50 days away from Nowruz. Or, it is the contracted form of the Avestan “saredha,” Persian “sard,” meaning "cold, winter."