Education
He studied classical composition and trained with Master Farāmarz Pāyvar.
He studied classical composition and trained with Master Farāmarz Pāyvar.
He is known for designing and playing a chromatic santour. His compositions based on using his unique chromatic Santour include Memoirs of Sangesar, Dance of Change and Peaceful Planet. Zolani is known for the development of a new tuning technique for the santour, which is an ancient Iranian instrument.
The traditional Iranian santour is a diatonic instrument, which is relative to playing a piano without the use of the black keys.
Zolani enhanced the instrument by creating a chromatic santour, which essentially allows the use of both black and white keys. Over the history of the Persian santour, unsuccessful attempts had been made to create a chromatic santour, but the enhanced instrument remained in experimental phases, never becoming functional.
Zolani"s change and enhancement of the santour was an historical first in the presentation and playing capabilities of the instrument. The transformation allowed for more chromatic and complex orchestral versatility.
Since 1995, Zolani has performed his original compositions in concerts in Washington, District of Columbia, as well as the ancient Roman city of Jerash in Jordan, featuring his new chromatic santour.
In November 2009, Zolani released a collection of his original work, entitled Memoirs of Sangesar. In 2004, his album, Peaceful Planet was awarded the Best Solo Instrumental Album of the Year in the Just Plain Folks Music Organization"s International Contest.
