Gholam-Hossein Darvish , the son of Haji Bashir Taleqani, was born in 1872 in Tehran. At 11 he enlisted in the Department of Music in Dar-ol-Fonun (Polytechnic School), where he was taught musical notation, as well as drum and trumpet playing. For a while Darvish played side-drum in the music bands belonging to Malijak (Azizossoltan) and Kamran Mirza (then the Viceroy). He, then, went to study tar and setar by Aqa Hossein-Qoli and made his way to the court of Prince Sho'a'ossaltaneh, who was then the governor of Fars province, and accompanied the Prince to Shiraz where he dwelt and get married.

Darvish was innovative in his composition and was of remarkable virtuosity in his performances. In his playing his phrases neither were imitations of his masters, nor were they wanting more creativity or originality. He was a master embellisher, without being an extremist. His metric pieces (zarbis) are more vivacious than those of his masters, including Mirza Abdollah. And his diverse and florid style astonished his contemporaries. Darvish was also the initiator of writing music in Western styles; following Western forms, and by employing Iranian subject materials he composed marches, polkas etc. and contributed largely to the art of composition in Iran. ...