Humata - Epic Iranian Music

Details

Description

Vocals by Fereshteh Modares, Ali Reza Berenjan and Farya Faraji, ney by @AliFarbodnia, music by Farya Faraji. The Epic Iranian series is a musical project where the sounds of modern Iranian music are used as a framing device pertaining to themes related to Iranian history and mythology.

This is a remake of my 2021 song Humata I made over four years ago, more commonly known now as one of the basic melodies found in "The Prayers," a section of my Nineveh Symphony. The original version of the song can be listened to here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw1DvNb0bMo

The music uses the daf and ney as instruments. The lyrics are one of the basic prayers of the Zoroastrian religion, Iran's native religion. The Zoroastrian religion was born in the Avestan-speaking regions of the Iranian plateau, the Avestans being one of the many Iranian ethnicities such as the Persians, Medes, Parthians, etc.

Lyrics:
Humatanam,
Huxtanam,
Hvrashtanam,
Ahurem Mazdam,

Ashem vohu vahisthem asti,
Ushta asti ushta amai,
Hyat ashai vahishtem ashai

Avestan is a difficult language to translate literally, so here are four optional translations that more or less express the intended meaning of the prayer:

"Righteousness is best (of all that is) good.
As desired, what is being desired
is truth for him who (represents) best truth."

“Asha is virtuously maginificent,
And joy upon joy is what Asha provides
For thus is Asha Vahishta."

"Truth is best (of all that is) good.
As desired, as desired, truth
is for him who (represents) best truth."

"Holiness (Asha) is the best of all good:
it is also happiness.
Happy the man who is holy with perfect holiness!"

"Righteousness is the best good and it is happiness.
Happiness is to her/him who is righteous
for the sake of the best righteousness."