A Survey on Street Music Genres in Tehran from 2001 to 2016

The purpose of this study is to examine changes in musical performances in streets of Tehran focusing on styles and genres over the past fifteen years. In this study, we investigated genres in the streets, and analyzed changes and main causes of such changes. This article is part of a major project conducted by the authors in Tehran from 2014-2016 . We drew a map of the large city of Tehran in four main parts according to people's economic standings. The areas included west, north, east and the center. We did not include the south because there are little or no street music activities in that area. Although we benefited from the existing literatures, the observation and interviews with musicians were the main methods of gathering data in this study. In this qualitative research, we utilized field study and documentary study methods that are selected to be in line with the key question of the study. To collect data, we used techniques of non-cooperative observation and ethnographical interviews. In examinations of observations and interviews we could drew a picture of changes in street music of Tehran in period of last 15 years. The outcome revealed several interesting findings. Our studies showed that one of the most considerable changes in performance genres. It means that street music genres shifted from folk music toward popular music over the last fifteen years is. In other words, our records show that traditional and folk music and Gypsy music were the most performed music in streets of Tehran prior to 2001. Since that time, we face decline of folk and traditional performances every year. The tempo of this change raises every year as we approach toward 2016. Another change took place on settled and moving performers in street of Tehran. Today performers usually settle in particular places and do not move from one place to another. Traditional and folk musicians and Gypsies, however, do not stay in one place and usually play on the move. Staying in one place has some advantages and disadvantages for musicians and their audiences. The main advantage is that performing and walking at the same time exhaust performers a lot and on working day for moving performers is a very devastating day. The other advantage of settling in one place is that the supporters and fans have chance of listening to their favourite musicians at regular bases. The main disadvantage of settling street performances is losing the chance of being heard by further people in various places. The other disadvantage is that in cases that street guards in particular places can easily arrest musicians because of engaging the path and pedestrian roads; while moving musician can scape in such situations. Another significant change that has occurred in the recent years is that people's viewpoint has changed toward street music and street performers. In other words, street musicians today enjoy a higher social places compare to 15 years ago. Increasing the number women musicians in streets of Tehran is another significant change in the life of street music in Tehran today.