The Kamkars

The Kamkars are a Kurdish musical family from Sanandaj, made up of brothers and a sister. They are known as one of the leading ensembles in Kurdistan and in Iran, and their name appears in Kurdish as Kamkaran and in Persian as کامکاران.

Background and membership

The group begins as a family ensemble of seven brothers and one sister, with eight founding members listed as Hooshang, Bijan, Pashang, Qeshang, Arjang, Arsalan, Ardeshir and Ardavan Kamkar. In later line-ups, the group is listed as a 14-member ensemble, with Hooshang Kamkar as director and composer. Other members include Bijan Kamkar on lead vocal, tar, rubab, tombak, dohol and daf; Pashang Kamkar on santoor; Siawash Kamkar as composer; Arjang Kamkar on tonbak; Arsalan Kamkar on barbat, oud and violin; Ardeshir Kamkar on kamancheh and ghaychak; Ardavan Kamkar on santoor; Ghashang Kamkar on setar; Saba Kamkar on vocals; Hanna Kamkar on daf; Neyriz Kamkar on tar; Maryam Ebrahimpour on vocals; and Omid Lotfi on setar.

Music and repertoire

The Kamkars perform traditional Kurdish and Persian music, including Kurdish and Persian classical music. Their repertoire covers a wide range of Kurdish musical forms, from reflective melodies to faster rhythmic pieces. The music draws on themes of epic battles, love, myths, and stories of national and religious heroes, with some traditions reaching back to the time of the ancient Medes.

Performances and recordings

The group performs widely around the world and appears at the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in honour of Shirin Ebadi. Their recorded work includes albums such as Kani Sepi, Chant of Drums, Xak / Muzîka Senfonîka Kurdî, Xoş e Hewreman / Nightingale With a Broken Wing, Living Fire, Agirî Zindo / Agri Zindow, Music from Kurdistan, Gol Nishan, Zardie Khazan, Baharan e Abidar, In Memory of Hafez, Shabahengam, Baraneh, Darya, Be Yade Saba / In Memory of Saba, Afsaneh Sarzamine Pedari, Owraman, Biabane Bikaran, Persheng, and Khorshid e Mastan. They also appear on compilation albums associated with singers Homayoun Shajarian, Adnan Karim and Shahram Nazeri.