Bahman Rajabi was born 1939 in Rasht. His interest in musical rhythms started in his childhood by playing on household equipments like metal trays. He moved to Tehran with his family at a very young age. He could not afford a Tombak teacher due to financial difficulties. Therefore, He started learning Tombak by just listing to and observing Tombak players during his schooling. He also faced family and educational problems. These difficulties very much delayed his artistic development. He considers himself as student of the past and contemporary tombak masters, by learning from past masters and being influenced by contemporary masters. He considers Ostad Amir Naser Eftetah as being more influential. Bahman Rajabi has renovated and modernized the work of other artists. He has also made some notable innovations in the art of Tombak especially in expansion of playing techniques by using logical methods. He has renovated the traditional Iranian 6/8 rhythms known as "motrebi" or "ruhozi". He has added over ten new riz(roll) to the previous five traditional riz(roll). He is an excellent orator. He has given many lectures accompanied by solo performances about Tombak without expecting any financial reward. He believes that a modern Tombak artist must be a scholar, a thinker and a researcher as well as a good player. Unfortunately he was also a political prisoner for over 8 years. Bahman Rajabi believes that art is for attainment of highest human attributes and not means for accumulating wealth. For this reason, he never plays in any institution in which art has only entertainment value.
Description
The Tombak or Zarb. Is the Chief percussion instrument of Iranian Art music. This is a one faced drum Where the whole upper half is wider Than the lower. It is carved of single Block of wood! And it body is hallow, Open at lower end covered with a Sheepskin membrane across the Upper part. An average Tombak is 43 cm high with Playing face of 28 diameter A Tombak player holds the drum Diagonally across his lap with the Wider section usually over his right Side and it is played with the fingers And the palm of the hands. The tick Bass sound is known As TOM. This sound comes from striking the centre of the face with the Whole hand. The snap, dry sound, is known as BAK and is produced by Striking the face of the rim
