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| Memmad Ansari |
Memmad Ansari says that traveling in Europe has become significantly easier thanks to the existing conditions. The composer from Tabriz, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in composition at Goldsmiths, University of London, spoke with Voice of America about travel opportunities in Europe, the travel culture in Eastern and Western societies, as well as the historical scientific contributions of Western travelers, while also sharing his own travel experiences.
The musician, who recently visited several European countries, including France, Spain, Ukraine, Slovakia, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, says he encountered surprises during his travels and made an effort to familiarize himself with the culture and art of the places he visited while also connecting with the local people.
"I didn't plan my destinations too rigidly; I just started traveling slowly... Sometimes, there were surprises, and at times, it was even slightly dangerous... [My goal] was not to relax, but rather to see more, walk, meet different people, and visit various places..."
Highlighting the history and travel culture of Europe, Memmad Ansari spoke about the scientific contributions of Orientalist travelers:
"In the West, there are Oriental studies faculties, but in the East, there are either very few or newly emerging Western studies faculties," he noted, referring to the role of European travelers in the creation of encyclopedias as well as their contributions to Oriental studies and ethnomusicology.
Memmad Ansari also described the facilities and infrastructure that make travel easier in Europe, contrasting them with the situation in Iranian Azerbaijan and Iran in general.
"Iranian residents live in a closed environment. The reasons for this are clear. Iran faces sanctions, and there are financial difficulties. I see from my friends and family that a few years ago, they would travel to neighboring countries like Turkey and Azerbaijan once a year. But now, even traveling to neighboring countries has become difficult," the composer remarked.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Şərq və Qərb toplumlarında səyahət mədəniyyəti