Tara Jaff
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Tara Jaff | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Born | 1958 (age 67–68) Baghdad, Iraq |
| Origin | Halabja, Kurdistan Region |
| Genres | classical Kurdish music, folk, global music, fusion[disambiguation needed] |
| Occupations | Musician, singer, harpist, songwriter |
| Instruments | Celtic harp, guitar, mandolin, charango, bağlama |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | Kom Müzik, Avaye Barbod, Sony Music |
| Website | tarajaff |
Tara Jaff (Kurdish: تارا جاف, romanized: Tara Gaf) (born 1958 in Baghdad, Iraq) is a Kurdish musician, singer, and harpist. She is recognized for introducing the Celtic harp to Kurdish music, particularly in the Hawrami dialect, and blending traditional Kurdish melodies with classical, folk, and world influences.[1][2]
Early life and education
[edit]Jaff was born in Baghdad to a Kurdish father from the Jaff family of Halabja who was also a diplomat, and a mother of Tatar Turkish descent.[3] She began piano studies at age ten at the Baghdad Musical Academy and also learned guitar, mandolin, charango, and bağlama.
After refusing to join the Ba'ath Party student organization, she was expelled from the academy.[4]
In 1976, Jaff moved to the United Kingdom where she continued her studies, explored English folk music, and performed in local folk clubs.[5]
Career
[edit]Jaff experimented with multiple string instruments before discovering the Celtic harp, inspired by ancient Mesopotamian harps from Hurrians, Assyria, Sumer, and Elam.[6]
She adapted the harp to Kurdish music using novel tuning and plucking methods.
She has performed widely as a solo artist and in collaborations with musicians, poets, filmmakers, and visual artists, including Adnan Karim and Aynur Doğan.[7] Jaff also participates in outreach programs bringing music to hospitals for therapeutic purposes.
Musical style
[edit]
Jaff emphasizes the preservation of classical Kurdish music, particularly the Hawrami style, blending its melodic modes and rhythms with Western harp techniques.[8]
Career timeline
[edit]Early years and ensembles (1976–1990s)
[edit]- 1976–1980: Joined a Chilean music band in London, performing songs of solidarity against the Pinochet regime (live performances, archival recordings).[9]
- 1990s: Began introducing the Celtic harp to Kurdish music, performing at European cultural festivals.
Definitive studio albums
[edit]
- Diley Dêwanem (2006, Kom Müzik) – Notable tracks: "Yaran", "Ruhi Rewan", "Symfonyay Guman".[10]
- Asewar (Dialogue of Harp and Ney) (2012, Barbad Music) – Collaboration with Fardin Lahourpour.[11]
- Tembur & Harp – Sony Music (2015) – Collaboration with Cemil Qoçgiri.[12]
Notable singles & collaborations
[edit]| Year | Song/Project | Collaborator/Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Hanasay Ashqan | With Adnan Karim |
| 2014 | Malan Bar Kir | Featured in "Music from Kurdistan" |
| 2016 | I Have No Wish to Say Goodbye | With Eleanor Turner & Rowena Calvert |
| 2020 | Qimil | With Pervin Chakar |
| 2021 | Na, Ne Tenê Me – I | With Mehmet Atlı |
| 2022 | Harp | Solo, including "The Black Cat", "Deer Hunting" |
| 2025 | Sultan | With Farid Elhami |
| 2026 | Dubara | Featuring Sia the Dj (Electronic/Global Fusion[disambiguation needed]) |
Archival and live performances
[edit]- Peşk (Compilation) – Multi-artist Kurdish compilation featuring her harp arrangements.
Tara Jaff playing the Harp during a cultural gathering at Aram Gallery in Sulaymaniyah. - The Oran Project – Exploration of Celtic and Middle Eastern musical crossovers.
- Live at La Marbrerie (2018, Paris) – Concert featuring Rusan Filiztek.[13]
Cultural and advocacy work
[edit]Jaff participates in Kurdish cultural events, charity concerts for disaster victims, and serves on the London Kurdish Film Festival organizing committee.
She is a proponent of preserving classical Kurdish music and collaborates with various groups to promote Kurdish heritage.[14] Jaff has showed solidarity for the Kurdish slogan Women, Life, Freedom, and has participated in a public demonstration in London against abuses done to Kurdish women fighters of Rojava by ISIS, joining the hair-braiding activity as a form of resistance and asking for International recognition for the sacrifices.[15]
Personal life
[edit]Tara has been married once to a Palestinian man. From this previous marriage, she has one child named: "Nahwand Jaff" who is an artist and photographer. She has not remarried.
Jaff speaks Kurdish Hawrami, Kurdish Sorani, Kurdish Kurmanji, English, and Turkish.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "BBC Radio 3: World on Your Street". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Tara Jaff on Kurdish classical music". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Blogfa: Early life". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "BBC interview: Early life". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "BBC interview: Career beginnings in UK". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "BBC: Harp discovery". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Ziryan: Dialogue of Harp and Ney album". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Tara Jaff on Kurdish music preservation". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Kurdipedia archives". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ Kom Müzik catalog
- ^ Jaff, T. & Lahourpour, F. (2012). [Liner notes]. Dialogue of Harp and Ney [CD]. Tehran: Avaye Barbod.
- ^ Jaff, T. & Qochgiri, J. (2015). [Liner notes]. Tembur & Harp [CD]. Turkey: Sony Music.
- ^ "Kurdipedia archives". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Blogfa: Cultural advocacy". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/Kurdsat/videos/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%81-%D9%82%DA%98%DB%8C-%D8%AF%DB%95%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%DB%95-%DA%A9%DB%95%D8%B2%DB%8C/903935521979546/
- ^ "Blogfa interview: Personal life". Retrieved 19 March 2026.