About
Masoud Morshedi is an Iranian composer, multi-instrumentalist, and researcher whose music is an ever-evolving dialogue between the ancient musical traditions of Iran and the complex vocabulary of contemporary global composition. His work moves seamlessly between the spiritual tones of Iranian modal systems and the textural worlds of spectral and electronic music. Born and based in Tehran, Masoud has developed an artistic identity rooted deeply in both the sounds of his culture and the innovations of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. His journey reflects a deep commitment to both scholarship and artistic experimentation, always searching for new ways to connect the past with the future.
Early Musical Journey and Education
Masoud Morshedi began his musical path at the age of sixteen when he discovered the Iranian Kurdish instrument known as the Tanbur. This instrument,with its ancient resonance and sacred associations, became his first teacher. It offered him not only the technique of playing but also a spiritual connection to sound. Over two years, he immersed himself in the world of the Tanbur, absorbing its nuances and learning the expressive power of its tones. After establishing a foundation in the Tanbur, Masoud expanded his exploration into the wider realm of Iranian classical music. He began to study the Taar, one of the most central instruments in the Dastgah system, which represents the modal structure of Persian classical music. Alongside mastering this instrument, he began formal academic training in music. He studied music theory, solfège, harmony, counterpoint, and the structures that form the basis of both Iranian and Western traditions.
Academic skills
His academic progression led him to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in management. During this time, he cultivated a balanced understanding of traditional Iranian music and contemporary classical approaches. This foundation prepared him for his Master’s degree in music composition, which he earned at the Iran University of Art, one of the country’s most respected institutions for music education.While completing his academic studies, Masoud also devoted time to understanding and creating electronic music. He learned to use a variety of professional music production tools including Logic Pro, Ableton Live, and MaxMSP. These programs allowed him to dive into the world of electronic sound design and explore new methods of composition. He began to understand music not just as a sequence of notes but as sculpted energy shaped across time.
Masoud’s Master’s thesis was a deeply researched and original work comparing spectral music and Iranian Dastgah music through the lens of harmonic analysis. His work aimed to uncover how the harmonic thinking behind spectral music intersects with the traditional harmonic behavior found in Iranian modal systems. This thesis was later published as a book in Iran, providing a valuable academic contribution to the study of musical synthesis between East and West.
Professors and Mentors
Masoud Morshedi’s musical development has been shaped by a diverse group of esteemed Iranian and international musicians, composers, and educators. His studies span Iranian classical music, Western music theory, electroacoustic composition, and instrument mastery.
Farhad Herati
Amir Hossein Islami
Dunia Salehi
Mani Jafarzadeh
Homan Asaadi
Nader Mashayekhi
Sara Abazari
Ahmed Pejman
Kiawasch Sahebnassagh
Sohrab Motabar
Seyed Salman Hosseini
Rashid Lahiji
Ali Kheshtnejad
Bahareh Fayazi
Hossein Alizadeh
Faraz Khanafri
Amir Alavi (Art University)
Sharif Lotfi (Art University)
Dr. Madjid Tahriri (Art University)
Creative Works and Projects
A selection of Masoud Morshedi’s original compositions, studio recordings, and interdisciplinary projects across film, theater, and electronic music. Reflecting his diverse creative journey through contemporary and traditional soundscapes.
Compositions
- 7 original pieces for solo piano
- String trio – Recorded with the Respina Quartet
- Solo violin piece – Performed at the University of Tehran
- Solo horn piece – Selected for performance at the 4th Tehran Contemporary Music Festival
- Solo flute piece
- Spectral composition for 16 soloist musicians
- “More Important Details” – For cello and four lines of electronic waves
Studio Recordings
- Two solo piano pieces
Performed by:- Parsa Riahi
- Karen Selajgeh
- Miniature piece for solo violin
Performed by: Farmehr Biglo (Violinist, Tehran Symphony Orchestra) - String trio
Performed and recorded by: Respina Group musicians - Documentary score for “Andoh Jangal”
Director: Maryam Razzaghi
Instrumentation: Strings and string orchestra samples
Film, Theater & Documentary Composition / Sound Design
- Composed music for over 20 electronic music etudes
- Composed 35 etudes for Korg Volca Modular Synthesizer
- Taar solo performance – 80th Anniversary of the University of Tehran, Farabi Campus
- Music selection for documentary – “Journalist of the Revolution”
Director: Hossein Zulfiqari, for Iranian Radio - Original music for short film – “Life”
Director: Elham Ahmadi - Theater composition – “Twenty Minutes in Solitary Cell”
Director: Alireza Zare
Performed at: Farabi Campus, University of Tehran - Music and sound design for documentary – “The Sadness of the Forest”
Director: Maryam Razzaghi - Sound design for short film – Directed by: Amir Hossein Marzban