- Ta'zieh
Ta'zieh (Persian: تعزیه) means Condolence Theater and
Naqqali are traditional Persiantheatrical genres in which thedram a is conveyed wholly or predominantly through music and singing. Tazieh dates before the Islamic era and thetragedy of Saiawush inShahnameh is one of the best examples.In Persian tradition, Tazieh and Parde-khani, inspired by historical and religious events, symbolize epic spirit and resistance. The common theme is the hero tales of love and sacrifice, and of resistance against the evil.
While in the west the two major genres of dramas have been
comedy andtragedy , in Persia (Iran), Tazieh seems to be the dominant genre. Considered as Persian opera, Tazieh resembles the EuropeanOpera in many respects. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/story/2005/10/051005_az-tehransymphony-orchestra.shtml Iranian performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony (BBC Persian)] ]Persian cinema and Persian symphonic music have been influenced by the long tradition of Tazieh in Iran.
Abbas Kiarostami , famous Iranian film maker, made a documentary movie entitled "A Look to Tazieh" in which he explores the relationship of the audience to this theatrical form.Nasser Taghvaee also made a documentary entitled "Tamrin e Akhar" on Tazieh.Ta'zieh and Shiism
The appearance of the characteristic dramatic form of Persia known as the Ta'zieh, in essence an expiation ritual, coincided with the emergence of
Shiism . According toIbn Kathir , it appeared in the reign ofMu'izz ad-Dawla , the king ofBuyid dynasty , in 963. As soon as theSafavid Dynasty was established inPersia in 1501 and the Shiism of theTwelvers adopted as the official sect, the State took interest in theater as a tool of propagating Shiism. [ [http://www.islamonline.net/IOL-English/dowalia/art-2000-August-03/art3.asp Iranian Theater Propagates Shiism ] ]Takia
Like Western passion plays, ta'zia dramas were originally performed outdoors at crossroads and other public places where large audiences could gather. Performances later took place in the courtyards of inns and private homes, but eventually unique structures called takias were constructed for the specific purpose of staging the plays. Community cooperation was encouraged in the building and decoration of the takias, whether the funds for the enterprise were provided by an individual philanthropist or by contributions from the residents of its particular locality. The takias varied in size, from intimate structures which could only accommodate a few dozen spectators to large buildings capable of holding an audience of more than a thousand people. Often the takias were temporary, having been erected specially for the
mourning of Muharram . All takias, regardless of their size, are constructed as theaters-in-the-round to intensify the dynamic between actors and audience. the spectators are literally surrounded by the action and often become physical participants in the play. In unwalled takias, it is not unusual for combat scenes to occur behind the audience.cite encyclopedia | title=THE PASSION OF HOSAYN | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Iranica | accessdate=2008-01-19|url=http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v12f5/v12f5036d.html]Takia-ye Dawlat , the Royal Theater in Tehran, was the most famous of all the ta'zia performance spaces. Built in the 1870s byNaser-al-Din Shah , the Royal Theater's sumptuous magnificence surpassed that ofEurope 's greatest opera houses in the opinion of many Western visitors. This takia was later destroyed byReza Shah .References
External links
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9058665/Passion-play Passion play] an article by encyclopedia Britannica online
* [http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v12f5/v12f5036d.html The passion (ta¿zia) of Husayn ibn 'Ali] by Peter Chelkowski, an article of Encyclopædia Iranica.
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/story/2005/02/050209_pm-hh-tamrin-akhar.shtml Nasser Taghvaee's documentary: Tamrin e Akhar] (BBC Persian)
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/story/2005/05/050503_pm-pj-kiarostami-taazieh.shtml Abbas Kiarostami on Tazieh] (BBC Persian)
* [http://www.lianrecords.com/pgs/about_rpm.html Ta'zieh, the Persian Passion Play]
* [http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v12f5/v12f5036d.html Ta'zieh] by Peter Chelkowski inEncyclopedia Iranica
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