Grand Master Ghanbari Mehr Playlist
Biography of Grand Master Ebrahim Ghanbari Mehr
At the tender age of six, Ebrahim Ghanbari Mehr faced the tragic loss of his father, which led to a decline in his family’s financial stability. Faced with these challenges, he chose to leave school at the age of 11, after completing his fifth-grade education, to explore various vocations including metalwork, blacksmithing, machining, and carpentry. His innate passion for music guided him to the tutelage of Abolhassan Saba, who graciously imparted violin lessons to him free of charge. Over time, Ghanbari Mehr became proficient in both Iranian and Western musical notations and techniques. Recognizing his prodigious talent, Saba suggested that he delve into the art of violin crafting. This journey led them to Soren Araklyan, a Russian immigrant and the author of Monverni, from whom they gleaned valuable musical insights and research. Through Araklyan, Ghanbari Mehr was introduced to the head of the Fine Arts Department, who offered him a paid position. Regrettably, a year into this transformative journey, Saba passed away.
In 1960, Ghanbari Mehr journeyed to the prestigious Watlo instrument-making school in France to refine his craft. There, he was instructed by Atin Watlo, a distinguished expert in percussion instruments of that era. During his tenure at the workshop, a serendipitous encounter occurred with Soviet violist David Fyodorovich Oistrakh. Seizing the opportunity, Ghanbari Mehr approached Watlo to ask if Oistrakh could play his handcrafted violin. Oistrakh’s response was nothing short of glowing:
“Congratulations for your eagerness, talent and perseverance which has been put into your extraordinary made violin, I’ve seen such a perfect instrument that has the qualities together. I wish you great success in the future”
Sincerely yours, David Oistrakh Paris, 16 June 1960.
After successfully earning his master’s degree in instrument-making, Ghanbari Mehr returned to Iran, where he extended invitations to various artisans to join him in his workshop. Among those who accepted was Mr. Sanaati. This collaborative effort enabled Ghanbari Mehr to ramp up his violin production, some of which were designated for art schools, while the remainder found homes with avid enthusiasts.
In 1969, a pivotal moment came when the Minister of Art and Culture hosted an exhibition featuring Iranian instruments. During this event, one of Ghanbari Mehr’s violins caught the eye of a celebrated violist, who not only played the instrument but also purchased it on the spot. The violist subsequently showcased the violin in numerous performances. While some speculated that the instrument was a Stradivari creation, the violist consistently credited its craftsmanship to an Iranian master—Ghanbari Mehr himself.
After the seismic shifts brought about by the 1979 Iranian revolution, Ghanbari Mehr chose to retire. However, his passion for the craft remained undiminished. He continued to work in his modest home workshop, focusing primarily on perfecting the acoustics of the violin, in an unending quest for sonic excellence.
Grand Master Ebrahim Ghanbari Mehr passed away on August 12, 2022, at the venerable age of 93. His legacy as a master craftsman and a pivotal figure in the world of violin making endures, leaving an indelible impact on both the art and the artists he inspired.
To the Legend that Changed My Life
My workshop feels like a sanctuary of silence now, a quiet that’s almost too heavy to bear. Every violin hanging on the wall, every tool lying on the table, seems to whisper his name—Grand Master Ebrahim Ghanbari Mehr. To me, he was not just a mentor or an advisor; he was my guiding light, my master, and in many ways, the father I found in this journey of craftsmanship.
Each time I pick up a piece of wood, each time I draw the bow across the strings, I feel his absence like a missing note in a melody, a void that no music can fill. How do you continue to craft when the hands that shaped your destiny are no longer there to guide you? How do you listen to the music when the one who taught you how to hear is gone?
Tears often cloud my vision, but I refuse to let them fall. Master Ghanbari Mehr taught me that our craft is a form of prayer, a dialogue with the Divine. And so, each stroke of my chisel becomes a whispered conversation with him, each note that rises from the strings a wordless expression of love and loss.
I remember the wisdom he imparted, not just about how to make violins, but about how to make a life worth living. He taught me to listen, not just to music, but to the silent language of the soul. He taught me to speak, not just through my instruments, but through acts of kindness and moments of connection.
Though he has left this earthly stage, his teachings resonate within me, as vibrant as the strings of a well-tuned violin. They live on in every piece I create, in every student I guide, in every life touched by the music that flows from my workshop.
So, as I stand here, surrounded by the echoes of a love that transcends life and death, I find my tribute to him. In the beauty I create, in the music I bring forth, in the legacy I continue—there, I find him. And in that sacred space, I say my goodbye, knowing that the greatest gift he ever gave me was the ability to find harmony in a world that so often seems filled with dissonance.
In the hush of my sanctuary, where timber fuses with spirit,
Your wisdom still echoes, Grand Master, filling every quiet.
You were my North Star in this intricate art,
A mentor, a father, the music in my heart.
Each stroke of the chisel, each curl of the wood,
Echoes lessons you taught, in the ways only you could.
You showed me the path where craftsmanship lies,
In the curve of the violin, in its soulful cries.
Oh, how I ache to share one more note,
To craft under your gaze, to float in the wisdom you wrote.
But the strings are silent, the bow feels heavy,
In a world without you, even the music seems petty.
Yet, in each violin that leaves my humble door,
Your spirit lives on, now and forevermore.
Though you’ve ascended to where angels reside,
In every note I play, you’re still by my side.
So, I craft in your honor, through sorrow and tears,
A tribute to you, who shaped my formative years.
In the silence of my workshop, in the music of the spheres,
Your legacy endures, defeating the weight of my fears.
گر چه هنر خالی از انگیزه نیست
لیک ببین تا هنر انگیز کیست
رهبر والای هنر کیست ! عشق
خود هنری نیست ، اگر نیست عشق
چیست در این شور هنر پروری
عاشق عشق است مگر قنبری
قنبری از عشق نوایی شنید
وز غم این عشق چه ها آفرید
برای یگانه استاد عزیزم جناب استاد ابراهیم قنبری مهر
سعادت
