TEHRAN – Styles of performing by veteran musicians Shir Mohammad Espandar and Qanbar Rastgu have been registered on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Espandar and Rastgu were awarded certificates at a meeting held at the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization in Tehran on Sunday.

Donali (twin reed flute) virtuoso Espandar was born in Bampur in 1927. He left Iran to find work in Pakistan when he was only a teenager. In 1958, he returned home after he had received an education on Baluchi music in the country.

He has given many performances in France, Peru and many other countries.

Ratgu is a master performer of jofti, a kind twin reed flute that is used in southern Iran, particularly in Bushehr, which is home to various tribes and nations that migrated to the city for different reasons.

Music in the region was strongly influenced by the African slaves who were brought to southern Iranian cities centuries ago.

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he founded Kaalang, a band that was dismantled years later.

Photo: This combination photo shows musicians Qanbar Rastgu (L) and Shir Mohammad Espandar.

MMS/YAW