Barbad
Videos
Barbad was a Persian musician-poet, music theorist and composer of Sasanian music. He served as chief minstrel-poet under the Shahanshah Khosrow II. A barbat player, he was the most distinguished Pers
Detail of Barbad playing the barbat for Khosrow II. Imaginary painting by Muhammad-Mukim, 1664
Bahram Gur and Courtiers Entertained by Barbad the Musician (Barbad bottom right). From a manuscript of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, second half 17th century.
An illustration from a manuscript of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, depicting Barbad (top left) hidden in the trees playing for Khosrow (bottom right).
Barbad (left) playing music for Khosrow II
Lute
Videos
A lute is any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavity, usually with a sound hole or opening in the body. It may be either fretted or unfretted.
Barbad
…al-Farīd state that Barbad was killed by a different musician, variously recorded as Yošt, Rabūst, Rošk and Zīwešt. Barbad was active as a musician-poet, lutenist, music theorist and composer. His compositions included panegyrics, elegies and verses. These were performed by himself at festivals such as Nowruz and…
Renaissance lute in 2013
Ancient Egyptian tomb painting depicting players with long-necked lutes, 18th Dynasty (c. 1350 BC).
Hellenistic banquet scene from 1st century A.D., Hadda, Gandhara. Lute player with short-necked lute, far right.
Lute in Pakistan, Gandhara, probably Butkara in Swat, Kushan Period (1st century-320)