Iranian Quran Reciters Call for Bold Innovation in Traditional Styles
At the 20th Specialized Meeting of the Supreme Quran Council on Thursday, Iranian reciters Mahdi Gholamnejad and Qasem Moghadami presented a joint paper discussing the conditions and challenges of innovation in Quranic recitation. The annual gathering brings together leading teachers, reciters, and memorizers of the Quran.
Their paper, titled “Requirements and Obstacles to Innovation in the Recitation of Iranian Quran Reciters,” explored how Quranic performance can evolve while remaining rooted in established rules.
Speaking first, Moghadami said innovation requires collective support. “We all must work together to ensure that innovation in Quran recitation takes shape,” he said.
He warned against excessive traditionalism that discourages creativity, while stressing that awareness of recitation principles prevents crossing essential boundaries.
He added that a reciter’s mission is to convey the Quran in the best possible way and attract people to its teachings.
According to him, innovation should not come at the cost of neglecting the rules of recitation. Moghadami said rich Iranian and Shia musical traditions, as well as styles used in supplications and religious chanting, can offer inspiration when used within proper Quranic frameworks.
Gholamnejad, speaking next, noted that cultural identity shapes musical expression and even styles of Quranic recitation in different regions.
He divided the obstacles to innovation into technical and spiritual categories. Technical challenges include excessive vocal stretching, incorrect articulation of letters, and mismatched melodies.
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Spiritual obstacles, he said, include performing to showcase vocal strength, insincere intentions—especially in private gatherings—and trying to attract listeners through inappropriate melodic elements.
Reciters, he added, must ensure their innovations match their vocal abilities.
In a later segment, Moghadami emphasized that innovation is essential and that reciters should engage with experts in music theory. However, he cautioned against recitation that becomes overly influenced by music, saying it can compromise sincerity. Pure imitation, he added, is another barrier to creative development.
Gholamnejad also outlined types of innovation, including new overall styles—such as Iraqi, Iranian, Turkish or Gulf styles—creating new melodies, modifying existing ones through subtle techniques, and producing novel combinations of melodic phrases.
Innovation, he said, must remain consistent with musical harmony, avoid tonal errors, and preserve tajwid rules. Spiritually, it must avoid elements that distract from the humility and purpose of Quranic recitation.
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