Ostad Elahi had a small Persian setār he had named bolbol (nightingale), which was a replica of his five-stringed tanbur, only smaller. A travel instrument with a flat body, he would almost always take it with him on his trips. The manner in which he played this instrument defied all expectations, for he would freely combine techniques specific to the tanbur (the rolling of the fingers on all strings) with those of the setār (using one finger only). This style of playing became especially popular among setār players who followed him. Here, Ostad is playing in an intimate family setting during the last years of his life (in the early 1970s). Despite the poor recording quality, the piece captures the spiritual fervor that united the participants.

Āmān Sad Āmān
This song was composed by Hādj Nematollāh, Ostad Elahi’s father, at the onset of his illumination around 1901. Its lyrics, which invoke the Creator’s attribute of mercy, are a kind of petition addressed to the spiritual King or Beloved:

Āmān sad āmān, shāy karamdārān
Karam kheyre kar, wa hāl-e yārān

Have Mercy, O Merciful King
Bless Your companions with Your Grace

Ey Darvīsh Darvīsh
This song was also composed by Hādj Nematollāh during the same period. It is addressed to the Lord, referred to here as a dervish, for it appears that Hādj Nematollāh witnessed the Beloved in the guise of a dervish and composed this song in praise of Him:

Ey darvīsh darvīsh, īmānem darvīsh
Ez va fedāt bām, pā benyar wa pīsh

O Dervish, O Dervish, my faith rests in You
My life is Yours, come to me, come!

Soltān Sahākī
The music and lyrics of this song were composed by Ostad:

Soltān Sahākī Ali gīān
Shāy tanīā tākī Ali gīān

You are Soltān Sahāk, O beloved Ali
You are the unique and peerless King, O beloved Ali

Only the melody is played here.

Shīrīna Leylā
Initially, this soft melody was used to accompany a hymn by Hādj Nematollāh that can be translated as follows: “All in this world is precarious, O Beloved Dāwūd / Only the Truth shall remain, O Beloved Dāwūd,” an allusion to the Quranic verse: “All that is on earth will perish, but abide (forever) will the Face of thy Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty, and Honor.”¹

Although dedicated to Dāwūd, the archangel of mercy, this hymn invokes the divine attributes of majesty and rigor, so that when performed by a group it was considered to be ominous. During one of his trips to the west regions of Iran, Ostad Elahi modified the lyrics and turned this hymn of mourning into one of joy:

Shīrīna Leylāna leylāna
Shīrīnī khorīā vey mīkāna

It is here that we have tasted sweetness