How two Iranian brothers in China use ancient music as a bridge through wartime

During a recent concert in Beijing, as Persian melodies flowed from ancient instruments played by Majid and Massoud Shamaeezadah, the Iran war was never far from the twin brothers’ minds. “Every time we play, we think of our country, Iran,” Majid said afterwards. “Our music is very deep. It carries many feelings at once: sadness, happiness and imagination of home.” The concert, held at the brothers’ newly opened music workshop, featured five family instrumentalists whose individual performanc...

By Laura Zhou