Dotār have been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative Intangible Heritage list.

One of the richest aspects of Iran’s culture is its music. Made up of several different types, Persian music reflects the richness of its diversity and echoes its present and past history. Depending on which region of the country you visit, you will be sure to hear the sounds of traditional and modern musical instruments permeating the air.

Iran has been compiling files to register a number of its musical instruments with UNESCO over the past year as intangible cultural heritages. More recently, traditional skills of crafting and playing Iranian musical instrument Dotār have been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative Intangible Heritage list.

Dotar is a folkloric plucked musical instrument with a pear-shaped bow crafted with dried wood or mulberry tree, a neck made of apricot or walnut wood, and two strings. While playing, the players recount epic, historical, lyric and moral narrations that are central to their ethnic history, pride and identity.  While you’re in Iran, don’t miss Isfahan Music Museum, where showcasing over 300 traditional Iranian musical instruments in a sleek gallery.

Watch this video to experience that music can teach us about heavenly beauty.

The magical sound of Dotar.

The ancient land of Khurasan (also spelled Khorasan) covering eastern Iran is home to a big share of Iranian literature, art and culture. Many of great Iranian poets like Ferdowsi, Khayam and Mehdi Akhavan Sales, who is a legendary contemporary poet in Iran, have been grown in the sunny land of Khurasan. Besides literature and poetry, Khurasan is the provenance of fabulous folkloric music. Listening to lullabies and traditional pieces of music in Khurasan is one of those unique experiences that any traveler should be lucky to have while traveling in Iran.

Having traveled through the time since thousands of years ago, Dotar (Dutar) is the most fabulous instrument of Khurasani music which is played by the local music masters like Haj Ghorban Suleimani in different cities of Khurasan province including Torbat e Jaam, Neishabour, Ghouchan, Shirvan and etc. The deep and magical sound of Dotar and folkloric songs including old mythical stories sang by vocal masters with their strong and emotional voice, offers the unforgettable sound of Khurasani music which is the oral conveyor of Iranian culture.