Kayhan Kalhor is an Iranian
kamancheh virtuoso and composer whose work has been celebrated around the globe. Julia Gunther for NPR
When Kayhan Kalhor first left Iran, at age 17, he walked more than 2,500 miles, to Italy. He carried only two items with him: a small backpack and his main musical instrument, the
This was during the Iranian Revolution. Kalhor was the only one of his family who are of Kurdish descent to leave the country. His parents, fearing the worst for him, decided there was no other choice. They stayed behind, along with Kalhor s beloved brother. Imagine being a teenager, Kalhor says. You have school, you have your friends, you have your nice things to do. He had two pastimes he adored. I was riding horses and playing music you know, a very normal life. And then, suddenly, you can t go on the street. You know people will shoot you if you do. It was very, very confusing and not at all normal. (Interviews with him and others for this s