Quieter Than Silence: Mehdi Aminian & Mohamad Zatari

"Quieter than Silence” is an international, multicultural, independent project of the Roots Revival Cultural Association. "Quieter than Silence” was born from a story of friendship, beyond stereotypes and political conflicts, between an Iranian - Mehdi Aminian and a Syrian - Mohamad Zatari in Bucharest. The project grew, when Leila Soldevila Renault (France), Behnam Masoumi (Iran) and Zabih Vahid (Iran) responded positively to the invitation of the two to join them. “Quieter than Silence” is rooted in Syrian, Persian and Sufi music cultures, applying various rhythmical and timbral elements throughout the process, which makes it a unique artistic repertoire hard to attribute it to particular geographical identity. The ongoing conflicts around the world and the current tragedy in Syria in particular, existential, contemporary humans’ existential issues, mystic Sufi literature and poetry and the various musical traditions from around the globe are the main inspirations in this album and its new approach to composition, rhythm and melody. Musically, it is a synergy between different instruments including Ney, Setar, Oud, Kamancheh, Percussion, vocal and Double Bass. "Quieter than Silence” is a dedication to the wandering Syrians in distress and grief. It is a form of compassion and a protest against all the noise in the world.





Quieter Than Silence November 2017 tour & Album launching
Mehdi Aminian & Mohamad Zatari November 11 2017


Set List "Hezar Pareh" - 0:42 A composition by Mehdi Aminian inspired by Persian Chahar Pareh (A division in Persian Dastgah System) Words by Hatef Esfahani (Year 1783) "Don't Go" - 6:22 Composed by Mohamad Zatari Arranged by Both musicians Words by Hafez Shirazi (1325-1389) "Falling Star" - 13:46 Composed by Mohamad Zatari followed by Ney and Double Bass duo Improvisation "Chahar mezrab Dashti" - 20:00 A piece by Maestro Jalil Shahnaz Arranged by Mehdi Aminian (Inspired by Kayhan Kalhor's interpretation) "Oud Solo" - 24:07 Mohamad Zatari "Madness before Silence" - 28:10 Composed by Mehdi Aminian "A Shattered Beauty" - 33:40 An Old Syrian song (Hal'Asmar-ellon") reinterpreted and rearranged by Mehdi Aminian & Mohamad Zatari Percussion Solo - 38:14 Behnam Masoumi "How long?" - 44:06 A composition by Mehdi Aminian inspired by Ommar Khayam poem (1048 -1131) "Lullaby for the travelling child" - 57:40 Composed by Mehdi Aminian Arranged by both musicians "October" - 1:04:26 Composed by Mehdi Aminian



Musicians Mehdi Aminian: Ney, Setar, Vocals (Iran) Mohamad Zatari: Oud (Syria) Leila Soldevila: Double Bass (France) Behnam Masoumi: Tombak & Percussion (Iran)