Barbad

Barbad or Barbad the Great (in Persian: باربد) was the most famous and skilled court musician of the Sassanid Empire of Persia. He created the first ever musical system in the Middle East, known as the Royal Khosravani, dedicated to the king Khosrau II, who reigned from 590 to 628. This musical system conceived by Barbad consisted of seven royal modes, thirty derivative modes, and three-hundred sixty melodies, one melody for each day of the year. Because in the Iranian calendar, year was divided into 12 months of 30 days and the last 5 days were just celebrated and not counted as part of the year.

This was the oldest Middle Eastern musical system of which some traces still exist. Its enduring heritage is the names given to some of today's gooshehs of the various dastgahs in the modern system of Persian music.

According to the legends, it was Barbad, who through a song - potentially risking his life - informed the Sassanid king, Khosrau Parvez of his most beloved horse, Shabdiz's death.

It should be noted that Barbod is a common mistake and the correct form of writing and pronunciation of this name is Barbad.

See also

• Music of Iran
• Sassanid Empire
• Music of Sassanids
• Bamshad