TEHRAN -- A new musical instrument will be unveiled during concerts by the Shahnaz band, to be held at Tehran’s National Grand Hall from October 9 to 13.

Band vocalist Mohammadreza Shajarian designed the instrument, called a Sorahi, his daughter and band member Mojgan told the Persian service of MNA on Sunday.
Resembling a kamancheh, a sorahi is a treble instrument from the family of bowed instruments and sounds similar to a violin, she explained.
The Sorahi can be offered in ranges of alto, soprano, bass and double bass. Musicians who play kamancheh, qeijak, violin and violoncello can easily play the Sorahi, she added.
She went on to say that virtuosos Sina Jahanabadi and Mehrdad Nasehi will play the instrument for the first time during the concerts.
In addition, 15 calligraphy artworks created by Ali Kadkhodaii, which have been signed by Mohammadreza Shajarian, will be on sale on the sidelines of the concerts to raise money for the victims of the killer earthquake in Bam in 2003.
Photo: Vocalist Mohammadreza Shajarian and his daughter Mojgan during the Shahnaz band’s concert at Tehran’s National Grand Hall on June 27, 2008