معرفی
Dr. Saeid Kordmafi is a Lecturer in Musicology of the Middle East at the Department of Music, SOAS University of London. He holds a PhD from SOAS, supported by a Felix Full Scholarship, and earlier degrees from the University of Tehran. His research focuses on maqām systems, rhythmic-metric analysis, and revival movements in Middle Eastern music. He is the convenor of the Performance Programme at SOAS and a member of the editorial board of Mahoor Music Quarterly. Key awards include the British Academy Global Talent Recognition (2021) and the AAWM Rob Schultz Junior Scholar Award (2019).
Education: BA (Classical Iranian Music, Tehran University), MA (Art Studies, Tehran University), PhD (Music, SOAS).
Research interests span modal and rhythmic systems, music theory-practice interrelation, and modernization processes in 19th-20th century traditions. Current projects include a book on rhythmic systems in Eastern Arab classical music, blending analytical and ethnographic methods.
As a musician, he revitalizes pre-modern aesthetics through performances and compositions. Co-founder of Rahâ Ensemble, he has released six CDs and collaborated internationally. Notable projects include The Phoenix of Persia (2019), a children’s music-book collaboration.
Awards include BFE Fieldwork Grant (2015), First Prize at the International Mugham Festival (2013), and Khwarizmi Youth Award (2010).
Labs/Teams: Active in the Rahâ Ensemble and editorial work for Mahoor Music Quarterly. Future projects include completing his book on Arab rhythmic metrics and expanding cross-cultural music collaborations.
