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Paulus Khofri 1923 - 2000

Assyrian Composer, Author, Teacher

Adapted by Esha Emmanuel Tamras

Paulus Khofri was born in Baghdad, Iraq on Aug 7, 1923. His father, Jibrael Khofri, a gifted artisan, who during WWI, when the heavy-duty-truck spare parts were scarce, manufactured them single handedly, punching them with embossed Assyrian characters which he made himself that read "Oomanoota Atoreta".

His mother, Victoria, a good-natured lady tended the family. When Paulus was only five years old, the family returned to Iran and settled in Kermanshah. After graduating from high school, he was employed by the British Bank of Iran. During this time, Paulus performed with his own four-piece band in Kermanshah and continued to play with yet another band. In 1950, when this bank closed in Paulus moved to Abadan and worked for the Anglo Iranian Oil Company.

Khofri's musical career started when he resumed his musical studies with the goal of becoming a composer. In 1964 he earned his diploma in music composition and harmony from the United States School of Music, Port Washington, New York. Mean while, he was busy giving concerts raising money for building the Assyrian School and Club in Abadan. He also gave exhibitions of his Oil and Watercolor paintings. Proceeds from these exhibitions went towards financing the said school building.

After transfering to the Tehran National Iranian Oil Company, Paulus Khofri continued his studies in music and music law. He studied under the direction of some famous scholars like Paul Hindemit of Yale University, Arnold Schonberg and Professor Walter Piston of Harvard University and he finally achieved his goal of obtaining his B.M. degree in Music from the Royal Academy of Music in England.

Paulus stopped giving concerts and painting and resumed composing music, styling and writing musical notation with different nibs, thousands of notes, inserted verses with tiny characters by hand as well as writing the lyrics with grammatical precision as well as Illustration. His musical compositions comprise of three classifications; Vocal Music, Instrumental Music and Orchestral Music.

The following is a list of his musical compositions.

1-Vocal Music:

 
Book Number Book Title Composition date and contents
Book No.1 Yoomani d'Eda Soor Composed in 1972 for Piano and Singing (Illustrated)
Book No.2 Zamrakh Am Ikhdadi Composed in 1982 Tome1 for Piano and Singing (Illustrated)
Book No.3 Sheeta D'Isrei Arba Yarkhi Composed in 1982 Two songs for every month of the year (Illustrated)
Book No.4 Zamrakh Mikhdadi Composed in 1984 Tome2 classic Folkloric songs for 2, 3 and 4 voices
Book No.5 Galli D'Zoomari Composed in 1998 Tome3 for Piano and Singing (Illustrated)
Book No.6 Zmoor Blishanookh Composed in 1998 for very young singers (our children sing in their mother's tongue)
Book No.7 Praise Songs Composed in 1998 Tome1 for Organ and various voices
 

2- Instrumental Music:

 
Book Number Book Title Composition date and contents
Book No.1 Braghala D'Nemati Composed in 1970 Tome2 no.1 for Piano
Book No.2 Braghala D'Nemati Composed in 1980 Tome2 no.2 for Piano
Book No.3 Assyryt Composed in 1984 Tome1 Classic Folkloric Music to be played by Virtuso Pianist
Book No.4 Nemati Mbazgha Composed in 1987 Tome1 no.1 for Piano
Book No.5 Braghala D'Nemati Composed in 1998 Tome2 no.1 for Piano, Violin, Flute, Guitar


   Notes on Book No.5 in the Instrumental Music section above

No.1 Sonata in G minor for Violing and Cello: Is composed in memoryium of the late Rbi William Daniel, pioneer composer of Assyrian music and writer.

No.2 Sonata in G Major for Piano, Composed in Zurich, Switzerland is dedicated to Mr. Essa Benyamin, the renounded Assyrian Calligrapher.

No.3 Fantasia in G minor for Flute and Guitar is dedicated to Mr. Simon Tomik, the Classic Guitar performer.

No.4 Suite in D minor for Violin-Flude, Guitar and Piaon, titled "Braghala min Toora" is dedicated to Assyrian Mountaineers.

No.5 Dipna d'Aina (at the spring) in D Major for Flute, Guitar and Piano, composed for young girls in the villages bringing fresh-cool-water in their earthen pots for their fathers toiling in the fields of wheat.

 

3- Orchestral Music: For 8 to 100 Musicians

 
Book Number Book Title Composition date and contents
Book No.1 Assyrian Classic - Folkloric Dances Under Compliation as of May 1998
Book No.2 Epic of Gilgamesh Being composed as of May 1998

Instruments used in Orchestras above

Voilins (I - II), Viola, Cellos, Double Brasses, Trumpets, Bassons, English Horns, French Horns, Flutes, Clarinets, Oboes, Trombones, Tuba, Kettle Drums (Tympani), Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Cymbals, Triangles.

Paulus Khofri has scores of compositions that are not published. Mr. Khofri has also tutored and trained more than 1200 students of music in Iran, some of which are writing music for movie films and well known events.

In 1985, the Assyrian Foundation of America, in Berekeley, California, honored Rabi Paulus Khofri for his dedication and contributions to the advancement of the Assyrian Folkloric Music. Rabi Paulus Khofri was presented a plaque in appreciation for his dedicated work and efforts in the field of Assyrian Music.

It is very important to distinguish and note that Mr. Paulus Kohfri's music compositions are not meant for dancing, as it is usually expected with Assyrian popular music, but it is intended for listening enjoyment. Rabi Khofri believed "whatever reaches one's ears, reflects all tides of life this nation has undergone in the past, present and will experience in the future.

Paulus Khofri once said "Music seeks to retain firmly that spirit, either sung by men and women praising God; or hummed by the farmer tilling his field. The joy of a young man whistling expecting to meet the girl he loves. The beating of the drum and the song of the fife in religous festivals (Shara). The blaring of the Brass instruments in anger, the wailing of the Oboe in sorrow, the intimate chatter of the string instruments all tell and paint vivid images of life in waves of sound. It is hoped, therefore, one can peep through this small window of music and see the revival of our past culture in budding".

Polous Khofri died at his home in Tehran, Iran in May 2000 at the age of 77.

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Updated August 31, 2001
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