Nagisa

Who is Nagisa?

Nagisa was a master harpist and composer of the royal court of King Khosrau II of Persia.

She collaborated with Barbad on her famous septet piece, the Royal Khosrowvani. The main themes of her songs were in praise of King Khosrau II. She also composed the national anthem of the time.

Music flourished during the Sassanid dynasty because many rulers were patrons of art and some were even artists. Under the Sassanids, poetry, singing, music, and art grew extremely popular, and many patrons such as Khosrow Parviz and Ardeshir protected and promoted musicians. Several musicians, like Ramtin, Bamshad, Barbad, and Nagisa became masterful to an extent that their influences surpassed their own time. Barbad and Nagisa greatly influenced and contributed to the Persian musical system, Khosrowvani. Accounts say that once Nakisa's audience was so moved by her performance that they passed out, or tore their garments.