Century-old sounds of Iran brought to life in Tehran exhibition
Audio archives capture Iran’s socio-political and cultural history in an evocative auditory experience
TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) – A historic building in Tehran has become the stage for an extraordinary exhibition where Iran’s earliest recorded sounds are being showcased, offering visitors a unique auditory journey into the nation’s rich history.
The “SoundScape” exhibition, organized by Saeed Anvarinejad and his team of audio enthusiasts, presents a collection of recordings dating back to the late 19th century.
From music and speeches to daily life sounds, the exhibition captures pivotal moments in Iran’s socio-political and cultural history, as reported by Oman Observer.
“Sound is a phenomenon we often overlook, yet it holds immense significance,” said Anvarinejad, emphasizing the emotional resonance of the recordings.
Unlike written accounts, he noted, these auditory relics reveal raw, unfiltered emotions, transporting listeners directly to the past.
The archives include some of the oldest surviving sounds in Iran, recorded between 1898 and 1899 during the reign of Mozaffar al-Din Shah of the Qajar dynasty.
This period, marked by the onset of Iran’s Constitutional Revolution, was a transformative era that introduced a parliament and constitutional monarchy.
“It was a time of profound political, social, and cultural change,” Anvarinejad explained.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage with this pivotal history through sound, creating a vivid connection to the past.
Among the exhibition’s highlights is a 1953 radio broadcast announcing the overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.
This chilling moment marked a turning point in Iran’s modern history, following a U.S.- and British-backed coup prompted by Mosaddegh’s efforts to nationalize Iran’s oil industry.
Other notable recordings include Iran’s first recorded call to prayer from 1912 or 1913 and a 1959 report mourning the death of Qamar, Iran’s first female public singer.
The exhibition features innovative installations, such as a mechanical device mounted on a concrete wall that plays old recordings of the tar, a traditional Persian stringed instrument, through retro telephone handsets.
Another interactive piece, titled “Mowj Negar,” uses a metal device to activate melodies from the Qajar and early Pahlavi eras by tracing printed sound waves.
However, not all moments are accompanied by sound.
A piece called “The Silent Closet” displays photographs from World War I without any accompanying audio.
“This silence isn’t due to a lack of technology but reflects the turmoil of the time when sound recording was not prioritized,” explained Atabak Axon, another organizer.
For many visitors, the exhibition has been a deeply emotional experience. Sarvin Faizian, a 21-year-old attendee, found the event profoundly moving, evoking a connection to her parents’ generation.
Similarly, Kamran Asadi, 63, described the exhibition as an intimate exploration of Iran’s musical and artistic legacy.
“SoundScape” not only preserves Iran’s auditory history but also bridges generations, offering a powerful reminder of how sound shapes identity and memory.
The exhibition stands as a testament to the enduring emotional and historical power of recorded sound in a visually dominated era.
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