Iranian musical instrument maker, Ebrahim Ghanbari Mehr, passed away on August 12, 2022, at age 94. His cause of death was not stated.
Ebrahim Ghanbari Mehr Early Life
Born on August 1, 1928 Ghanbari quit school at age 11, due to the financial situation at home.
He began working in a forging, machining, and carpentry workshop. Along the line, he was able to learn music with Abolhassan Saba, and learnt how to play the violin for free.
Saba went beyond training Ghanbari in Iranian music. He taught him how to manufacture violins as well.
He had introduced Ghanbari to Soren Araklyan, a writer who immigrated from Russia and had authored the book, Monverni.
After then, Ghanbari worked with Araklyan, who headed the Fine Arts Department, and ended up employing Ghanbari.
Ebrahim Ghanbari Mehr Career
After the death of Saba, Ganbari went to Watlo instrument-making school in France to hone his skills.
Ganbari ended up completing a master’s degree in instrument-making and returned home to Iran.
He opened his own workshop and made more violins, for art schools and individuals.
During the 1969 exhibition of Iranian instruments, an event organized by the then minister of art and culture, Ghanbari’s violin was purchased by a famous violinist who ended up playing it in several shows.
Ghanbari retired in 1979, following the Iranian revolution but he still maintained a small home-based workshop.