Tara Kamangar got her first taste of a standing ovation when she was just five years old. The place was Hayden Sonatina in California and she was part of a school talent-show team that was performing for an audience of 150.
“I received a standing ovation [for the piece I played on the piano],'' Kamangar recalls. “I think I was a bit oblivious to my surroundings and so it did not occur to me that I should be nervous.''
Today, that little girl holds a postgraduate degree in piano performance from the Royal Academy of Music in London and is considered a world-class pianist who excels at blending the best of Western and Middle Eastern compositions.
Her other achievements include being honoured with the Pederwski Medal, performing at international piano festivals and in venues such as London's Cadogan Hall, Leighton House Museum and Paramount Theatre. And though she confesses that she does feel nervous before taking to the stage, the applause at the end of her performance continues unabated.
When it comes to rating her performances, Kamangar says, the crowning glory in her career came last spring when she performed at a fundraising concert at Barbara Streisand's residence.
Some of her idols — such as Marilyn Bergman, the lyricist for many of Michel Legrand's songs — were present, one of reasons why, she says, it will remain an unforgettable night for her.
Standard's secret
But how has Kamangar succeeded in maintaining her superlative standard of performance, especially because the instrument demands that the person playing it be ‘distinctive'? And isn't the fixed tuning of the piano a limitation when it comes to composing Middle Eastern and other types of music that use microtones?
“The piano is such a versatile instrument that it can accommodate a variety of musical tastes,'' says the Stanford-born Iranian musician, who is now based in London. “The piano's repertoire is so vast that most pianists cannot hope to master even a tiny fraction of it in their lifetime.''
The piano offers endless avenues for improvisation, Kamangar adds. “One can play a melody and its accompaniment simultaneously or even get the piano to imitate the sounds of different orchestral instruments — with its muted, sharp or singing tones. You can play and improvise in the Baroque, jazz and flamenco traditions. The possibilities are endless.''
Kamangar attributes her love for music to the encouragement she received from her father, and success to a “wonderful teacher'' and single-minded dedication.
Born into a family that was passionate about music — her father studied the violin, sitar, santur, tonbak and daf but went on to become a surgeon because musicians were not respected in Iran in those days — Kamangar was introduced to the piano and violin at the age of 3.
“Over the years, I grew attached to the piano,'' she says. “I had a wonderful piano teacher in California, Dr John Hillebrandt. I attended several piano recitals that moved me, and because of that, got excited about certain composers.''
Rachmaninoff, Ravel and Chopin are the composers who have inspired Kamangar's pieces. Folk music, too, has played a role in shaping her work.
“In general, I love the works of classical composers who were influenced by folk music, such as Michel Legrand, Maurice Jarre, Francis Lai, Ennio Morricone and Nicola Piovani,'' she says. “I love tango and bossa nova, and hearing masters of Middle Eastern music improvise. Rachmaninoff was also an incredible pianist and I thoroughly enjoy listening to his work.''
She also loves the work of her brother, Arya, whom she describes as “a very gifted poet''. In fact, Kamangar sets his lyrics to tune. “Sometimes,'' she says, “a melody comes to me immediately, and sometimes never.The great thing about song-writing is that I can write most songs in my head.''
Listening to Kamangar speak, it comes as no surprise that she has attained such heights at so young an age. However, what does come as a surprise is the fact that she had opted for anthropology — a subject in complete contrast to her musical pursuits — as her bachelor's major.
Her journey into the world of anthropology began when she joined college. Despite having no intention of studying anthropology, she took it up because she hoped to apply to Harvard University — where a major in anthropology was a prerequisite for admission.
Lucky choice
As luck would have it, she had opted for three courses that were all cross-registered in the anthropology faculty — cultures of Southern Europe, behavioural biology of women and archaeology of the Near East.
“I found the courses fascinating. I knew that I had to definitely continue this course. I also felt that the other students in the department were open-minded and sympathetic,'' she said.
Yet her most special memories from her days at the university have nothing to do with it.
Instead, they are about Café Algiers, a beautiful café in Harvard Square where Kamangar became a regular. She says she loved the place because it was decorated with artefacts from the Middle East — such as maps, tapestry and mosaic mirrors — had a beautiful wooden domed ceiling and was a popular haunt for couples and debating scholars.
The café also played classical or Baroque music. It was there that she would head to most evenings, to either study or to watch people.
Now, however, it is the people who are watching Kamangar. So, what are her plans for the future?
For starters, she will be producing an album which has been written with the help of her brother. “I have recorded the complete piano words of the Iranian composer Golnoush Khalelghi, which will be released later this year. I will come to Abu Dhabi to perform through the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, in their 2008-09 season.''
Kamangar will also be performing Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and the Aminollah Hossein Second Piano Concerto with the Oakland Symphony in California.
One of those people who let their work do the talking, Kamangar refuses to rest on her laurels. She continues to learn new genres of music within the Middle Eastern repertoire, always striving to strike a balance to give her audience something fresh and pleasing.
No wonder her motto is: “Never give up.''
Rabis. M is a writer based in London.
