The Isfahan Music Museum brings together instruments from Iran’s classical and regional traditions. It opened in Jolfa in 2015. The museum later announced a move to the Hasht Behesht park entrance on Chaharbagh Abbasi.
The name of the city also appears in Bayat-e Esfahan, a mode in the Persian classical repertoire.
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History of the museum
Musicians Mehrdad Jeihooni and Shahriar Shokrani founded the museum in December 2015. Reporting from its original Jolfa location described a collection of more than 300 instruments from around Iran. That figure describes the collection reported at the time, rather than a count of pieces currently on display.
What to Look For in the Collection
- National instruments: compare plucked strings such as the tar and setar with the bowed kamancheh and the struck strings of the santur.
- Regional instruments: look for labels that identify where an instrument is played and the occasions it accompanies.
- Musicians’ portraits and recordings can help put the instruments in the context of a performance tradition.
- Look at the shape of a sound box and how the strings are attached. The construction helps explain the different ways the instruments are played.
- Live playing has been part of the museum’s visitor experience. Ask about the day’s program if hearing a demonstration is important to your visit.
Start with the displays, then ask staff which instruments can be handled. The original museum’s café, shop and costume photography arrangements may differ at the newer location.
How to get there
Use the museum’s announced address: the lower level at the entrance to Hasht Behesht Park on Chaharbagh Abbasi, opposite Sheikh Bahai Street. The old address on Mehrdad Street was in Jolfa. Ask the museum about opening arrangements and any performances before setting out.
Nearby: Chaharbagh Abbasi and Hasht Behesht
Pair the museum with a walk along Chaharbagh Abbasi and time at the Hasht Behesht garden. Plan Jolfa and Vank Cathedral as a separate stop south of the river.
The museum in pictures
Plan your visit
Allow time to compare the instrument families and read the labels. If a demonstration is scheduled, leave room in your itinerary for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Isfahan Music Museum open?
The museum opened in December 2015 at its original Jolfa location. Isfahani musicians Mehrdad Jeihooni and Shahriar Shokrani founded it.
How many instruments does the museum hold?
Early reporting described a collection of more than 300 instruments. The number on display at the current venue may differ.
Can visitors hear live music at the museum?
Live demonstrations have been part of the museum’s program. Ask the museum whether one is scheduled for the day of your visit.
Where is the museum in Isfahan?
The museum announced a move to the lower level at the entrance to Hasht Behesht Park on Chaharbagh Abbasi, opposite Sheikh Bahai Street. Mehrdad Street in Jolfa was the former address.
How long should I spend there?
Leave time to compare the instruments and read the displays. Allow extra time if a demonstration is scheduled or if you also plan to visit the Hasht Behesht garden.
