Bamshad

BamshadTemplate:Refn (Template:Langx) or Bāmšād was a musician of Sasanian music during the reign of Khosrow II (Template:Reign).

Life and career

Many Shahanshahs of the Sasanian Empire were ardent supporters of music, including the founder of the empire Ardashir I and Bahram V.Template:Sfn Khosrow II (Template:Reign) was the most outstanding patron, his reign being regarded as a golden age of Persian music.Template:Sfn Musicians in Khosrow's service include Āzādvar-e Changi,Template:Refn Bamshad, the harpist Nagisa (Nakisa), Ramtin, Sarkash (also Sargis or Sarkas)Template:Refn and Barbad,Template:Sfn who was by-far the most famous.Template:Sfn These musicians were usually active as minstrels, which were performers who worked as both court poets and musicians;Template:Sfn in the Sasanian Empire there was little distinction between poetry and music.Template:Sfn

Essentially nothing is known of Bamshad except that he was a noted musician during the reign of Khosrow II (Template:Reign).Template:Sfn His name comes from his practice of playing music at dawn every day: "bam" and "shad" translate as "dawn" and "happiness".

The Persian lexicons, for example Dehḵodā's Loḡat-nāma, describe him as a well-known musician equal to Barbad. He is also mentioned in a poem by the Persian poet Manūčehrī.Template:Sfn

Sources

Books and Chapters

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Journal and Encyclopedia articles

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