Mirror of Emotions

In this album Farzad has attemped to convey the commonality of human emotions through an even greater range of musical genres by using Western Classical, Eastern  folkloric, Smooth jazz, Pop, and Latin styles. It features Farzad on the violin and Louie Shelton on guitar.
CD101

Beyond the differences of ideology and belief, more obvious than our preferences in the realm of music, still stronger than our accusations of the error of our neighbor's ways, there lies in each of us a basic set of emotions. These emotions which lie, often silently, under the currents of our lives, undeniably assure us that despite the seemingly polar forces which separate us from each other, we are not as different as one might believe. Perhaps it is the light in our brother's eyes as he relives the fond memories of his childhood. It might be that storm that ravages our sister's inner shores when a loved one of hers is hurt or the way our own heart soars when we embrace our children. Whatever emotion it is, there is a point where we realize that in others we are able to see a reflection of that same palate of emotions that we hold in ourselves. When this happens we have taken a great step forward in our understanding of the oneness of humanity. In my previous album, "From My Heart", I used several different styles of music but there was an emphasis on modified Persian folk music. Here I have attempted to convey the commonality of human emotions through an even greater range of musical genres by using Western Classical, Eastern folkloric, Smooth Jazz, Pop, and Latin styles. I would like to thank all of those many people who helped and inspired me to finish this album. My hope is that each of you see yourselves in the "Mirror of Emotions".

Farzad

Mirror of Emotions

Produced by Louie Shelton
Drums/Tommy Wells, Bass/Craig Nelson
Acoustic and Electric Guitar/Louie Shelton, Farzad/Violin

1. Searching (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI

2. Thinking of You (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
I have dedicated this piece to my daughter and I hope that some day she will do the same for her loved ones.

3. Sante Fe Nights (Louie Shelton) Blue Harbor Music/BMI

4. Flight of the Lovers (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI

5. La Dadiva (The Gift) (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
I have always been fascinated with the richness of Latin Music so I am offering this as a gift to my friends from Central and South America.

6. Conversation (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
This piece is about the hopes and disappointments which are necessary to make us stronger and wiser.

7. Come Be With Me (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
Modified Persian Folkloric music.

8. Fiesta (Louie Shelton) Blue Harbor Music/BMI

9. Why? (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
At times, when things either happen or do not happen, we find ourselves wondering why this is so and life becomes a big question.

10. Farewell (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI

The selections in this album are a culmination of various styles of music: Eastern, Western and Classical music. It features Farzad on the violin.
CD100

1. Conversation (original composition) (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
A mixture of various styles of music, this song is the voices of older wisdom meeting the younger modern world and giving advice about keeping hope alive and not giving up. The younger generation resists, but the violin, representing the older generation, persists. It is the unity of young and old.

2. Longing [Soozeh], (modified Persian folkloric) (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
A love song.

3. Girl From Boyer Ahmad [Dokhtar-e-Boyer Ahmadi] (modified Persian folkloric) (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
In adoration of a girl from Boyer Ahmad, a tribal region of nomads close to Shiraz, Iran.

4. Dance of Martyrdom (original composition) (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
The history of mankind has found its heroic martyrs literally dancing to their gruesome ends. At first sad, one hears in the music an up-beat ending symbolizing the joyous moment when they give up their lives for their beliefs.

5. Unfinished Story (piano orchestral, original composition) (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
In this composition pizzicato (the plucking of the strings) marks the passage of time. I wanted to express that life's stories are often unfinished... while living them--but they must end, often unresolved. You know you can't stop time to create a proper closure, no matter how much you would like to do so.

6. Wheat Flower [Gol-e-Gandom] (modified Persian folkloric) (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
Traditional harvest song from Iran that, to me, also symbolizes a spiritual harvest.

7. A Father's Wish (original composition) (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
Originally from the movie, "For A Drop of the Lover's Blood" When I was rearranging it, I saw my daughter dancing and renamed it "A Father's Wish", wishing that Kiana's life would always be a free-flowing dance. I then picked her up and finished the dance with her head relaxed on my shoulder.

8. Layli [Shekar-e-Ahoo] (modified Persian folkloric) (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
The original folk song contains beautiful lyrics about a lover searching for his beloved, using the allegory of a gazelle. He searches the valleys and mountains and then realizes that maybe he'll never find his love.

9. Medley [Massom, Darraneh, Aziz-joon] (3 modified Persian folkloric songs) (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
Massom (Love Madness), Darraneh (Farewell) and Aziz-joon (Dear One) are blended into a largely original medley.

10. Yearning of the Heart (orchestral, original composition) (Farzad) International Amity Publishing/BMI
This piece is a mixture of emotions such as uncertainty, fear, confusion and surprise, all intimately connected. It is a yearning as the melody persists, yet the haunting bass also continues, bringing constant fear and uncertainty. Most pieces unfold their messages as I compose them, but this piece was deliberate. I knew exactly what I was trying to convey. Although to me it's a slow, dark, emotional song that requires patience to listen to, it may evoke something different to you, the listener.