Saghi-Nameh
A Choreomusical Work by Pouria Khadem
Saghi-Nameh is a choreomusical work by Pouria Khadem, created through a modern reimagining of one of the most familiar melodies in Iranian musical heritage — a tune shared across the folk traditions of many Iranian ethnic communities.
By composing new music on this ancient melody and setting it to a poem by Houshang Ebtehaj, Pouria Khadem presents a contemporary reading of this mythic ritual. With choreography by Mehdi Attarian, the work becomes a modern performance of an age-old ceremonial tradition.
Credits
- Composer & Pianist: Pouria Khadem
- Soprano: Nika Afkari
- Viola: Mehdi Monadi
- Choreography & Performance: Mehdi Attarian
- Visual Direction: Sayeh Parsaei
- Mixing, Mastering & Sound Design: Kaveh Abedin
- Recording Engineer: Marjan Masoumi — Saba Studio
- Poem by: Houshang Ebtehaj
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The Historical and Mythological Background of Saghi-Nameh
The origins of Saghi-Nameh trace back to the mythological story of Mithra. According to this ancient narrative, thousands of years ago, on Shab-e Chelleh — the winter solstice and the longest night of the year — Mithra was born from Anahita in the darkest cave of the world, destined to become the bearer and cupbearer of light for the Iranian people.
Over the centuries, Saghi-Nameh, due to its strong narrative and symbolic power, gradually moved beyond a single myth and evolved into a chant. In Iranian culture and art, it became a distinct musical and poetic form used in mythological and ritual storytelling, with many variations found across traditions ranging from Mithraism to Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
A performance of Saghi-Nameh, shaped by the narrative behind it, is traditionally a ritual ceremony accompanied by its own choreography and movement vocabulary, which may vary significantly among different historical and cultural versions.
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