remembrances :
Didem Başar, kanun
Sareh Borna, kamancheh
Mohammad Sahraei, tar
Ziya Tabassian, percussion & composition
August 4 aout 2025
17h à 19h (la musique commence à 18h)
5pm to 7pm (Music starts at 6pm)
Les Garage Concerts, c’est bien plus qu’une série musicale : c’est un espace de rencontres, de découvertes et de célébration de la musique vivante sous toutes ses formes.
The Garage Concerts are more than just a music series — they are a space for encounters, discovery, and the celebration of living music in all its forms.
Informations pratiques :
📍Lieu : 5226 Clark (coin Fairmount - Métro Laurier ou Bus 55)
🕖 Heure : 17h à 19h (musique commence à 18h)
🎟️ Entrée libre – contribution volontaire suggérée
Tout le monde est bienvenu ! Vous pouvez venir avec vos enfants, en famille ou entre amis.
Il y aura de quoi grignoter et se rafraîchir sur place.
Everyone is welcome! Feel free to bring your children, family, or friends.
Snacks and refreshments will be available on-site.
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Ce projet repose sur des cycles rythmiques (Osul) méticuleusement documentés dans un manuscrit rédigé par Amir Khan Gorgi et présenté au Roi d'Iran durant l'illustre époque des Safavides, vers 1696. Ces cycles rythmiques, prédominants à cette époque, ont servi de terre fertile à de nombreux compositeurs qui ont façonné des mélodies avec des motifs complexes. S'étendant de 2 à 88 temps, chaque cycle rythmique possède une identité distincte, enracinée dans les sons fondamentaux du tambour : le son grave et le son aigu. Les mélodies tissées dans ces tapisseries rythmiques évoquent un sentiment de nostalgie, invitant les auditeurs à parcourir les couloirs de la mémoire et à redécouvrir les échos du passé.
The foundation of this project is based on rhythmic cycles (Osul) collected from a manuscript written by Amir Khan Gorgi to the King of Iran during the Safavid period, in 1696. The rhythmic cycles were very common at that time and many composers wrote melodies on those cycles. The length of those rhythmic cycles varies from 2 beats to 88 beats. Each rhythmic cycle has its own character and the structure is based on the two basic sounds of the drum, the low sound and high sound. Melodies were composed with those rhythms. Some melodies might sound familiar, recalling past memories.
Didem Başar, kanun
Born into a musical family in Istanbul, Didem Başar is a kanun (Turkish zither) player, instructor and composer. She completed her music education in the kanun program and composition at Istanbul Turkish Music State Conservatory, where she later taught Turkish music and kanun techniques until moving to Canada in 2007.
She has collaborated with many ensembles and Symphony Orchestras, performing across Canada, the U.S., Europe, North Africa, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. She has contributed to numerous albums and soundtracks, including works with Cirque du Soleil and Constantinople Ensemble, and has composed for various projects.
In 2020, she released her album Levantine Rapsody which blends Turkish and Western classical music. The album received critical acclaim and was nominated for Album of the Year by ADISQ and the Conseil Quebecois de la Music. It won the Album of the Year award at the 24th Prix Opus Competition in 2021.
Her latest album, Continuum recorded with I Musici de Montréal, under the baton of Jean-François Rivest, was released in June 2024. Continuum represents a continuation of the musical journey that began with Levantine Rapsody. It has been nominated for two Opus awards.
Sareh Borna, kamancheh
Raised in an environment deeply connected to music, Sareh Borna began her journey as a kamancheh player at a young age. She graduated from the Girls’ Conservatory of Music in Tehran and pursued academic studies in Iranian Music Performance and Ethnomusicology at the Tehran University of Art.
Sareh has been actively involved in music education, teaching the kamancheh to students of all ages at various institutions in Iran. Alongside her teaching, she built a strong foundation as a performer, collaborating with ensembles such as Tiar, Arna, Arnavaz, and the Moj-e No Orchestra, participating in numerous concerts and artistic projects.
In recent years, she has extended her musical journey to international stages, performing in Canada with the Raha Ensemble and the renowned group Constantinople. These collaborations have allowed her to explore the intersections of Persian classical music with global performance spaces.
Her approach to performance is deeply rooted in tradition, while remaining open to new dialogues — a voice shaped by years of training, stage experience, and a deep commitment to the expressive possibilities of the kamancheh.
Mohammad Sahraei, tar
Mohammad Sahraei is a musician and ethnomusicologist originally from Iran, where he graduated with a Bachelors in Music and Masters in Ethnomusicology, as well as an accounting degree and an MBA. In his quest to understand the music of other cultures, he has done fieldwork with masters from many countries throughout the middle east and has published several essays on the subject. Mohammad has participated in many musical and cultural events in Halifax such as OBEY Festival, Halifax Jazz Festival, and Halifax Multicultural Festival. He has additionally produced a series of International Music Concerts in Halifax since 2017. Mohammad has live film score and performance on his resume, and also produced and published an original recording entitled the Nahavand Album. Mohammad is the founder and director of the World Music Museum Society in Halifax.
Ziya Tabassian, percussion
Known for his virtuosity and innovative approach to percussion, Ziya Tabassian began studying the tombak in Iran at the age of ten. After moving to Quebec, he studied Western classical percussion at the University of Montreal. His career has led him to collaborate with artists such as the Kronos Quartet and Kayhan Kalhor, performing in over 40 countries.
His discography includes albums like Tombak (2007), Le Cercle des Cycles (2017), and Zarb-e Osul (2020), showcasing his mastery of Persian rhythmic cycles. His latest album, Remembrances, features his original compositions.
Ziya Tabassian is also the artistic director of the Festival Accès Asie and the Garage Concerts series, where he continues to promote the fusion of traditional and contemporary music.
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Surveillez les prochains Garage concert, tout le monde est bienvenu!
Follow the next Garage Concerts, everyone is welcome!
📅 Jeudi 3 juillet / Thursday, July 3 — MALVENN
📅 Mardi 8 juillet / Tuesday, July 8 — RAN WANG
📅 Jeudi 10 juillet / Thursday, July 10 — SAREH BORNA
📅 Jeudi 17 juillet / Thursday, July 17 — COMTESSA
📅 Jeudi 14 août / Thursday, August 14 — EL BALCÓN
📅 Jeudi 21 août / Thursday, August 21 — TRIO GABRIEL SCHWARTZ
📅 Mardi 26 août / Tuesday, August 26 — UURIINTUYA KHALIVAN
📅 Jeudi 28 août / Thursday, August 28 — LASSO SANOU
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