Let me Tune

Composed in November 2020 for clarinet, tenor saxophone, guzheng, dotar, violin, and viola, Let Me Tune explores the unique qualities of the ancient Iranian instrument, the dotar—a two-stringed lute with a fragile yet deeply expressive sound.

Unlike other Iranian instruments like the tar and setar, the dotar has a distinct tuning and fretting system, with only 5 to 14 frets depending on the version. Its strumming technique is similar to the reverse rasgueado style of Flamenco guitar, creating a continuous, blended sound. Despite its simplicity, the dotar’s natural and ritualistic character captivated me.

The inspiration for the piece came from a tuning session with dotar performer Majid Amani, who emphasized that the instrument doesn’t suit perfect tuning. He adjusted the strings by ear, saying, "Let me tune until it feels right."

This composition also experiments with blending instruments from different cultural backgrounds. Pairing the Chinese guzheng (a 21-stringed plucked zither) with the dotar and Western instruments created a new and vibrant sound palette. In Let Me Tune, I focus on timbre, smooth transitions, and the microtonal possibilities inspired by the dotar’s unique tuning system.