“A House for Music, Memory, and Culture: The Story of Tehran’s First House Museum”

The Life and Legacy of Master Abolhasan Saba in the Heart of Old Tehran

Located in the historic Zahir al-Islam neighborhood, the Saba House Museum stands as Tehran’s first residential museum, offering a rich and intimate glimpse into the life of the legendary Iranian musician, Abolhasan Saba.

According torahbordbazar , quoting goodnewsagency, this Qajar-era house, which was both the birthplace and lifelong residence of Master Saba, was transformed into a museum in the 1970s through the efforts of his wife, Montakheb Esfandiari, in fulfillment of Saba’s will. It is Iran’s first biographical museum, established to showcase the life, works, and instruments of a single cultural figure.

The house, with its introverted Qajar architecture, horseshoe-shaped courtyard, wooden windows, nested rooms, and a basement that once served as Saba’s music class, evokes the soul of a bygone cultural era. The dual entrances—one for guests and one for residents—reflect the customs of traditional Iranian homes.

Inside, visitors encounter a valuable collection of musical instruments (including Saba’s handcrafted violin), handwritten notes, personal items, family photographs, and artworks. A section of the museum is also dedicated to ethnography, featuring dolls and traditional costumes made by Saba’s wife.

Echoes of Art in Zahir al-Islam Alley

In earlier decades, this house served as a salon for poets and musicians. Figures like Shahriar, Nima Yushij, Gholamhossein Banan, Ali Tajvidi, and Faramarz Payvar were among its regular visitors. Photographs of these gatherings now adorn the museum’s walls, preserving cherished moments of Iran’s artistic history.

Saba: Architect of Modern Iranian Music

A disciple of Colonel Ali-Naqi Vaziri, Abolhasan Saba played a pioneering role in modernizing Iranian music, bridging classical Western traditions with the depth of Persian musical heritage. Master of the violin, setar, santur, and kamancheh, and teacher to a generation of famed musicians, Saba also made significant field contributions to documenting the folk music of Northern Iran.

Today, Saba House Museum is more than a tribute—it is a living symbol of Tehran’s cultural memory, where music, architecture, and identity intersect.

📍 Location: Zahir al-Islam neighborhood, Safi Ali Shah Street
📸 A must-visit for enthusiasts of Iranian music and contemporary history.