Behzad Ranjbaran (born 1955, in Tehran, Iran) is a Persian composer, known for his virtuosic concertos and colorful orchestral music. Ranjbaran's music draws from his cultural roots, incorporating Persian musical modes and rhythms.

Life and career

Ranjbaran was born on July 1, 1955, In Tehran, Iran. He entered the Tehran Music Conservatory at the age of 9, studying the violin. In his teens while studying Western classical music, Ranjbaran began collecting folk music. Following his graduation, he immigrated to America in 1974. He studied at Indiana University, in Bloomington, and later at the Juilliard School in New York City where he obtained a DMA in music composition. His composition teachers at Juilliard were Vincent Persichetti, David Diamond, and Joseph Schwantner. Ranjbaran's music is strongly rooted in the Neo-Romantic movement of the late 20th Century, as well as showing the influence of Iranian and other non-Western music. He has written compositions for, among others, Joshua Bell, Renée Fleming, and Yo-Yo Ma, as well as a piano concerto for Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Many of his works are inspired by Persian culture and literature. Persian Trilogy, a large orchestral cycle completed in 2000, was inspired by the Shahnameh of the 11th Century Persian poet Ferdowsi. He has been on the faculty of the Juilliard School since 1991. His son Armand Ranjbaran and daughter Alina Ranjbaran are also composers.

Selected works

Awards

Students