Zahīrōk (Balochi:زهیروک) is one of the musical forms of Balochistan and the Baloch people, especially in southern Balochistan region of Makran. The genre expresses deep feeling and strong emotions about separation.[1]

In the beginning, Zahirok was only sung by two groups of Baloch women.[2]

Some Balochs often believe that zahırok is the basis of all Balochi music and the essence of the melodies used in singing Balochi narrative song.[3]

Zahırok is one of the most important and well-known Balochi song genres, often described as the “Balochi classical music” by the Baloch themselves.[4][1]

Etymology

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The term "Zahirok" refers to burning with longing which literally translates into “a melancholic song or a song of separation. it is about loss or absence (especially of distant loved ones) and a general term for several melody types used in narrative song performance.[5]

Features

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A zahirok always begins with cihal, which is followed by a small number of lines, some of which are normally repeated.[1]

Every zahiroks has a beginning section called a "picking up" (çistkanag) and a rising section called a "carrying up" (burzā barag). Once. the zahīrok has reached its "peak" (burzī), the pahlawān and/or surozī must "bring it down" (erārag) in a prescribed manner in order to conclude or "kill" (kuşag) the zahīrok.[6]

Zahirok is performed by male singers and played by donali, Suroz and ghaychak.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Zahirok: The Musical Base of Baloch Minstrelsy".
  2. ^ a b "BALUCHISTAN iv. Music of Baluchistan". Encyclopædia Iranica.
  3. ^ "Music of Makran: Traditional Fusion from Coastal Balochistan. Topic. TSCD 916. Recorded and annotated by Anderson Bakewell. 2019., byHiromi Lorraine Sakata, 2020". cambridge. doi:10.2307/1519672.
  4. ^ "CULTURE: BUDDING LOVE FOR MUSIC".
  5. ^ G Numsi [(2020) The Performance and Patronage of Baloch Culture through Music (and Related Arts) in the Eastern Arabian Peninsula [1]
  6. ^ "The Performance and Patronage of Baloch Culture through Music (and Related Arts) in the Eastern Arabian Peninsula".