A Dervishes journey : The Authentic Sema
The importance of the Mevlevi society for the development of the Turkish-Ottoman fine art music cannot be overestimated. For more than 700 years, the Mevlevi brotherhood defined the spiritual life of the Ottoman Empire. Sufism, and especially the Mevlevis, gave birth to famous poets, musicians and politicians.The founder Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi was an extraordinary musician, played the rebab and loved the ney. The brotherhood developed complex liturgical compositions. In the monasteries, or "tekkes" of the brotherhood, the most advanced musicians were being trained. Travelers to the Orient noticed the Mevlevis mainly, because of their "Sema", from their ritual whirling dance. The brotherhood of the Whirling Dervishes became familiar worldwide as the symbol of oriental mysticism.
This program brings to audience around the world the beauty and spirituality of the Sema, the Mevlevi whirling ritual, and the tradition of Mevlevi music, focusing on the repertoire of the 17th and 18th century when Ottoman music was highly sophisticated. The instruments played are Ney, Kemence, Tanbur, Kanun, Percussion, supported by Sufi singers and whirling dervishes. The Whirling Dervishes of Turkey were proclaimed as a Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005.
Musicians, Singers and Semazen- 10-20 people
This program brings to audience around the world the beauty and spirituality of the Sema, the Mevlevi whirling ritual, and the tradition of Mevlevi music, focusing on the repertoire of the 17th and 18th century when Ottoman music was highly sophisticated. The instruments played are Ney, Kemence, Tanbur, Kanun, Percussion, supported by Sufi singers and whirling dervishes. The Whirling Dervishes of Turkey were proclaimed as a Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005.
Musicians, Singers and Semazen- 10-20 people