“You have proven that besides your artistic ability, you can deal with scientific issues independently. In difficult exams, I have defended your work. I explained to all that you have lots of capability and that is why you were awarded a doctorate degree,” Said was told upon receiving his PhD.
The composer investigated the rhythms and melodies of the dances, and how the special characteristics of Kurmanji music were designated.
“Undoubtedly, this is the first time an academic research in this way about Kurdish Kurmanji music has been done in a European university. It also discusses merging Kurdish music with the neighbors’,” the renowned violinist previously told Rudaw.
“Also, I conducted research on many types of Govand and Dilan (Traditional Kurdish dances),” he said.
“Most Kurmanji music differs greatly from the music of the nations of the Middle East and Caucuses,” Said added.
His research found that a rhythm called Gerogina, which is found in Iraqi music, is originally a Kurmanji rhythm.
Born in Dohuk in 1958, Said is a graduate of the Baghdad music institute and holds a master’s degree from the University of Wales in the UK. He has been living in diaspora in Austria since 1991.
He is particularly well known for his composition ‘Peshmerga’ about the massacre of Yezidi people and capture of Sinjar by ISIS.
In a 2015 interview with Rudaw, Said shared his views on the importance of traditional music to Kurdish identity.
“Globalization has had both negative and positive impacts on the world’s culture and music. I believe its negative influences are greater than the positive ones. Of course, this is not something specific to the Kurds. Global music attracts people especially youths all around the world, which is not necessarily negative. But traditional and folk music need to stay alive as well,” he said.
“We, the Kurds who want to build our own state in the future, need to protect our language and culture. An important element of culture is music, so we need to protect our folk music,” he added.
“Without culture and language no nation can survive.”
