I Am Cyrus - Epic Iranian Music

Music by Farya Faraji, vocals by Farya Faraji and Kelareh Kabiri. Please note that this isn’t reconstructed music from the Achaemenid era, only modern music with an ancient theme. Cyrus was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, the first Persian Empire in Iranian history that took over the previous Median Empire. He is widely regarded by modern Iranians to be the father of Iran, and was one of the most revered kings in Antiquity, admired by Alexander and Caesar, and seen even into the Renaissance as the model for what a king should be. The lyrics are in Old Persian and Akkadian, the first being from what is called the CMa inscription found on Palace P of Pasargadae. From what I understand, these words may not actually date back to Cyrus’ era and would have been retroactively written after the era of Darius I. The second are from the Cyrus Cylinder, a document describing Cyrus’ taking power over the Babylonian Empire, and how he restored the temples, cults and sacred images. Due to this, the document is often proclaimed to be the first declaration of Human Rights in history, and while this is an exaggeration given that the concept of human rights did not exist back then, and the text embodies nowhere near the values promulgated by modern human rights (the actual text—there are false translations commonly circulated around the Internet); the Achaemenid policy of cultural and religious tolerance nevertheless remains something they were renowned for, and some current regimes 2500 years later lack behind them in this regard. This video is posted on the 29th October given that it is the national day of Cyrus in Iran, although not his actual birthday as it is unkown. Lyrics in Old Persian: Adam kuruš xšâya, Thiya haxâmanišiya, Kûruš, xšâyathiya, Vazraka, haxâmanišiya Wašna Auramazdaha, Adam xšayathiya amyi, Auramazda, xšhahiam, Mana frabara thatyi. I am Cyrus, King, an Achaemenian, Cyrus the great King, an Achaemenian By the grace of Ahura Mazda, I am King Lyrics in Akkadian: a-na-ku mKu-ra-aŠ Šar kiŠ-Š at Šarru rabu Šarru dan-nu Š ar Babili Šar mât Š ú-me-ri ú Ak-ka-di Šar kib-ra-a-ti ir-bit-tim mar mKa-am-bu-zi-ia Šarru rabu Šar alu An-Š á-an mar mari mKu-ra-aŠ Šarru rabu Šar alu An-Š á-an ŠA.BAL.BAL m Š i-iŠ-pi-iŠ Š arru rabu Šar alu An-Š a-an I am Cyrus, king of the world, the great king, the powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters of the world, Son of Cambyses, the great king, king of the city of Anshan, grandson of Cyrus, the great king, king of the city of Anshan; great-grandson of Teispes, the great king, king of the city of Anshan.

Thermopylae 480 BC - Epic Symphony

Music & vocals by Farya Faraji. Please note that this isn’t reconstructed historical music, it’s modern music that uses aspects of Ancient Greek music and modern Iranian music. Notes on some of the chapters: “The Spartans - Leonidas” uses the Enharmonic modes of Ancient Greek music, which was defined by usage of microtonal intervals. The orchestration and arrangement heard here is largely historically compatible, and may give an accurate enough insight into the sounds of Ancient Greek music. The instruments heard for the Greeks are a frame drum, Ancient Greek lyres, and a basic rural flute; as well as the aulos and bagpipes. Modern Greek instruments like the bouzouki also join in later in the symphony. The flute melody is in the first tetrachord of the Lydian Chromatic mode, another of the three variants of Ancient Greek modality: Enharmonic, Chromatic and Diatonic. The Iranian themes utilise the vast modal repertoire of Iranian music, called the dastgāh system today, which is related to the broader maqam system also used in modern Greece. The Achaemenids’ leitmotif and Xerxes’ leitmotifs are based on medieval variants of the Segāh mode that I found in the works of Safi-ad-Din and early Safavid-era music theorists. The Iranian instrumentation consists of a modern orchestra played in a typical Middle-Eastern fashion, a tar, setar, tanbour, qanun, oud, ney flute, santour, and daf and tombak drums. The lyrics to the chapter “the Empire” are Achaemenid-era writings written down in the Behistun inscriptions. The lyrics heard in Leonidas Gathers the 7000 are an Ancient Greek paean written by Aeschylus, for his play “The Persians.” The pronunciation I used for the Ancient Greek lyrics is Modern Greek, not reconstructed historical pronunciation. 00:00 Overture - Earth and Water 00:34 The Spartans - Leonidas 04:24 The Empire - Xerxes 07:29 To Greece 09:52 Leonidas Gathers the 7000 13:30 Thermopylae 15:06 The First Battle 17:02 Immortals Deployed 19:20 The First Night - Leonidas’ Dreams 21:14 The Second Day 25:14 Celebration and Feasting 26:48 Ephialtes’ Treachery 28:02 Leonidas’ Choice 29:50 The Shadows over Xerxes 33:14 Last Stand 37:24 The Empire Triumphs 37:52 Lament for Leonidas 41:30 A Memory Honoured