"Every Noruz I become a child again, a little boy of five or six. All my being, even my voice becomes childlike. My ears became full of voices of the rattles, sparrows and chicks. I see my kite flying in wind, its ears go to left and right, lightly and slowly it goes forward, falls down and hits the ground. I feel as if my nose is hurt and is bleeding. …..My kindergarten teacher used to say: no one has seen the next Noruz, but I as a child in my fantasy can ride my ladder and reach the next Noruz, take my kite with me and fly in the planes in front of our house. My kite is the same one that has become a star and reached the clouds……. the same one that went far away became tiny, but I myself know which one it is, because I made it with my own hands."
Samin Baghcheban the son of the late Jabbar Baghcheban, the Iranian composer, author and translator, passed away at age 82 on 19 March of 2008 further to a heart attack in Istanbul. The Institute for Research on the History of Children's Literature in Iran (IRHCLI) conveys its condolences to his family and all those working in children's art.
Samin Baghcheban was born in 1925 in Tabriz. He spends his childhood in Shiraz and after completing elementary school he attended the Academy of Music in Tehran.
In 1944 after acquiring grants from the Government of Turkey he and his friend Hossain Nasehi went to Ankara, both to continue their studies in music composition. In 1949 he and Nasehi returned to Iran after completing their masters degree in composition with honors, they both started teaching in the Academy of Music.
In 1985 he returned to Turkey with his family and remained there for the rest of his life.
Between the years of 1949 and 1978 along with working in the field of music he was also active in writing and publishing his work, including translations into Farsi from the famous writers of Turkey such as Nazem Hekmat (poet and pay write), Aziz Nesin (satirist) and Yashar Kamal (novelist).
His work also includes "Seven Handicrafts of Iran", Paik Javanan; Articles on ABC of Music, Paik Javanan; " Nouruz and the Kites" illustrated by Norodin Zarinkelk ( the selected book of 1353 by the Children's Book Council of Iran. Also "Nouruz and a bird on the tree", illustrated by Parviz kalantary, 1982; Noruz, poetry and seeds for the sparrows", illustrated by Parviz kalantary 1982, and "Images from my father" 2003.
The most well known work of Baghcheban is the Rangin Kaman music album for children which his wife Evelyn helped in producing it. This album is still being distributed in the form of cassette and CD.
Mohammad Sarir the Head of the Board of Directors of the House of Music announced that there will be a commemoration in memory of Samin Baghcheban and the Organization with the consent of his wife intends to collect and publish his work.
We honor his memory.