The Position of Music Art Among Iranian Societies and Cultures in Historical Period

Evidences found from Archaeological explorations, rock reliefs and rock inscriptions, express immemorial connections between music art and Iranian societies and cultures in the historical age. The music of Mythic era (Pishdadians and Kayanids) and Historical era (Medians, Achaemenids, Parthians and Sassanians) is the most general division of music history of pre Islam. The flourish of Elamid music, before the Achaemids, can be noted as well. This research is a descriptive – analysis type, conducted to survey the position of music art in the societies and cultures of Iran at the Historical age. The research findings are gathered by documentary and field studies and analyzed in qualitative manner. The results of this research state that the upper and lower classes of the society had an important role in formation, transition and evolution of this art at the aforementioned time. Playing various instruments such as harp, reed (Ney), Drum, hornpipe, timpani, etc. in orisons, sacrifice, wedding and mourning ceremonies, indicating the association of this art with social life of people and closed connection between music and cultural, religious, social, economical and political characteristics of societies in ancient Iran.