Suite in Rastpanjgah (Naghd-e Sufi) is a two full-length CD set containing original compositions by Mahmoud Zoufonoun all in the mode (dastgah) of Rastpanjgah featuring Mahmoud Zoufonoun on the violin, Siamak Pouyan on tombak and other percussion. This material also includes original songs (tasnif)namely 'Bovad-aya', 'Naghd-e-Sufi', 'Baba Taher', plus instrumental chaharmezrab, rengs and other pieces. The following is an exerpt from the English foreward of 'The Life of Mahmoud Zoufonoun', a biography written by Aghdas Zoufonoun: quot;One of the earth's most valuable human gems has yet to still be uncovered, and that gem is Ostad ('Master') Mahmoud Zoufonoun. There are arguably fewer than a handful of figures in the history of traditional Iranian music who could have come close to Mr. Zoufonoun's profound depth as both an artist and human being. And yet many still do not even know about, much less understand and appreciate the quality of Ostad Zoufonoun's genius. This is because his is a genius illuminated by both prolific contributions and achievements as a master composer, performer, musicologist and teacher, marked throughout with a perfectly humble, selfless dedication to his family and community --- and all this while being utterly disinterested in any self-promotion! Indeed, if precious gems are the result of nature's concentrated effort over time, one can say that Ostad Mahmoud Zoufonoun is without a doubt one of it's rarest, most authentic masterpiecesquot; - Dr. Hafez Modirzadeh, Professor of Music, San Francisco State University Even at the age of 86, Mahmoud Zoufonoun does not rest. He continues to teach students from age 6 to 60, take long walks every day, invent and construct musical instruments, perform violin on stage and of course, continually compose--often on napkins and scrap paper, while in a noisy environment, whenever and wherever inspiration finds him. His life reveals a man more interested in preserving and composing music, teaching others to learn and appreciate music, his family, and the appreciation of others--especially other musicians and his students--than in promoting himself or his works. That humility, which makes Ostad Zoufonoun stand out as a true artist pursuing art for the sake of the art, has rendered his accomplishments and contributions virtually unknown to the greater population. And yet, as Ruhollah Khaleghi notes in his encyclopedia of traditional Persian music, the importance of Ostad Zoufonoun in the history of Persian music cannot be overlooked. Ostad Zoufonoun, through his early national radio solo programs when he was only in his twenties and thirties became and remains known to some as a leading soloist. What many may not know, however, is the extent to which Mahmoud Zoufonoun also dedicated his energies to composition, musicology and teaching. And this places him among only a handful throughout the history of traditional of Persian music who attained mastery in all these areas. As musicologist Dr. Hafez Modirzadeh notes, the depth and refinement of Mahmoud Zoufonoun's works may not be fully understood and appreciated for years to come. Mahmoud Zoufonoun's life has been chronicled in these pages at the behest of the community and with the penmanship of his wife, Aghdas Zoufonoun. This story begins with Habib Zoufonoun, Mahmoud's father. It was Habib who first imported music into the family (incidentally, it was also he who selected the name 'Zoufonoun' for the family, which translates into 'master
