I Love You, Oh Ancient Land

To Ra Ey Kohan Boomo Bar Doost Daram
Studio album by Mohsen Keramati and Noushin Tafi
Released	January 27, 2015 (Iran)
Recorded	2010–2015, Studio Pop (Tehran)
Genre	Persian traditional music
Length	21:27
Label	30Lahn Music Inc. (Worldwide), Avaye Barbad (Iran)
Producer	Mahmoud Tavassolian
Mohsen Keramati chronology
Soroushan (2014) To Ra Ey Kohan Boomo Bar Doost Daram (2015)
Noushin Tafi chronology
To Ra Ey Kohan Boomo Bar Doost Daram (2015)
Alternative cover

To Ra Ey Kohan Boomo Bar Doost Daram (Persian: تو را ای کهن بوم و بر دوست دارم ‎‎; lit. I Love You, Oh Ancient Land) is a 2015 Persian traditional music collaborative studio album. The album is dueted by vocalists Mohsen Keramati and Noushin Tafi, and is composed by Peyman Khazeni. The album was unveiled on January 27, 2015.^[1]

Controversy

In February 2015, the album became controversial after Iranian hardliners falsely claimed that it contains solo female vocals (which is forbidden in Iran). The album got Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati under pressure from conservatives. Several senior clerics publicly criticized the album, including Hossein Noori Hamedani, Mohammad Alavi Gorgani, Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani and Naser Makarem Shirazi.^[1]

“I emphatically deny all reports claiming that the Culture Ministry has authorized an album that contains solo performances by a female singer. The complaints from the respected clerics are based on false reports that they have received about the album. Of course, I respect them and understand their concerns, which come from religious motivations”, The minister said.^[2]

Due to the criticisms on the album, two female singers scheduled to perform in Fajr International Music Festival, did not participate in their group's event. The ministry stressed that their absence was “with the agreement of the group”.^[3]

Remove from Market and Cover change

On February 26, 2015 the publisher decided to remove the album from the market in order to change the cover, after being warned by Ministry of Culture. The album's original cover, which portrays only female singer Noushin Tafi, may cause the "misunderstanding" that it's a solo album by her.^[4]

Track listing

To Ra Ey Kohan Boomo Bar Doost Daram[5]
No.	Title	Lyrics	Length
1.	"To Ra Ey Kohan Boomo Bar Doost Daram"	Mehdi Akhavan-Sales	3:29
2.	"Ey Eshgh"	Hushang Ebtehaj	3:15
3.	"Pish-e Rokh-e To"	Hushang Ebtehaj	3:00
4.	"Sodeye To"	Hesamoddin Heravi	4:36
5.	"Saraye Bikasi"	Hushang Ebtehaj	4:18
6.	"Shab-e Yalda"	Morteza Keyvan-Hashemi	2:49
Total length:			21:27

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.^[5]

Mohsen Keramati – vocals Noushin Tafi – vocals Additional musicians Peyman Khazeni – composer, tar Meysam Marvasti – violin Pedram Faryousefi – violin Emad-Reza Nekouyi – violin Milad Alami – violin Mir-Amir Miri – percussion Ehsan Khazeni – percussion Ehsan Analouyi – ney Payam Souri – piano

Atena Ashtiani – viola Shayan Yazdizadeh – tombak Artistic personnel Mehdi Tavassolian – photographer Nassim Shogh– photographer Maryam Taghavi – photographer Technical personnel Mahmoud Tavassolian – producer Payam Souri – mix and mastering Kambiz Shahin-Moghaddam – mix and mastering (track 5) Pouyan Ramezani – sound engineer

References

1. Esfandiari, Golnaz (February 7, 2015). "Female Singing At Center Of New Attacks Against Iran's Rohani". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty . Retrieved February 27, 2015.
2. "False news on female solo singing annoys Culture Ministry". Tehran Times. February 16, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
3. "Administration seems to back down on women's right to sing". Radio Zamaneh. February 17, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
4. Azad, Sahar (February 27, 2015). "Controversial Album Removed From The Market". Shargh (in Persian) (2247). p. 14.
5. To Ra Ey Kohan Boomo Bar Doost Daram (booklet). 30Lahn Music Inc. 2015.