The 8th edition of the Konya International Mystic Music Festival will take place September 22nd through 30th under the serene shadow of Mevlana Rumi’s tomb, in Konya (Turkey) – a city ripe with mysticism. All concerts will be held at the Mevlâna Culture Hall of Metropolitan Municipality and are open to the public at no cost.
The artists scheduled to perform this year are Guinée Percussions (Guinea), Maâlem Hamid El Kasri (Morocco), Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (India), The Fairfield Four (USA), Davlatmand (Tajikistan), Tashi Lhunpo (Tibet), Tengir Too (Kyrgyzstan), Parissa (Iran) and Konya Türk Tasavvuf Müziği Topluluğu (Turkey).
Konya is located at the heart of Anatolia, also known as Asia Minor. It is the site of one the earliest settlements on earth. The modern-day city is like an open-air museum with diverse cultural and historic influences on display throughout. Konya became a city of world renown due to Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi (September 30th 1207 – December 17th, 1273), an acclaimed Sufi and poet who lived and died here. Mevlana was born to a family of scholars in Balkh, a town located in today’s Afghanistan. Since childhood, Mevlana received excellent training in the arts and sciences.
Eventually, migration through the long and arduous routes of Central Asia brought him and his family to Anatolia and on May 3rd, 1228 he arrived in Konya. He was introduced to divine love by Shams-i Tabrizi, who came to Konya in 1244 and disappeared suddenly in 1247. Inspired by the fire of this divine love, Mevlana became a Sufi dervish and poet. The poems he recited while whirling trance-like during the sema have become some of the most widely read in the world.
After his death, his son Sultan Veled established the Mevlevi Order to continue his legacy. For centuries, the brotherhood was both active and influential in social life with an emphasis on the culture and art it cultivated. To this day, the culture created by the Mevlevi Dervishes continues to amaze people all over the world, and many attempt to bring it into their own lives. The highlight of the events commemorating and introducing the Mevlevi Order and Mevlana every year is the anniversary of his death on December 17th. The Mevlevi call this Shab-i Arus or “the wedding night” since, according to the Mevlevi tradition, death is nothing but a reunion with the beloved.
Every year, from December 10th through 17th, numerous activities are held in Konya, and people travel from all over the world to celebrate their love and admiration for Mevlana. Once a part of the Shab-i Arus activities, the Konya International Mystic Music Festival has been held each September since 2008. With concerts and music recitals starting in the latter part of the month, the Konya International Mystic Music Festival always culminates on September 30th, Mevlana’s birthday. Since the first Festival in 2004, it has become a melting pot of mystical music from around the world. The intention of the festival is to introduce mystical music traditions of the world while promoting interaction and communication among various faiths by emphasizing mystic music – that aspect of faith which is common to all religions.
The Festival strives to commemorate Mevlana Rumi in the best possible way, in alignment with his pure, unbounded love for humanity and his trust in every human being, no matter who or what they are, and with no judgments, questions or prejudices. The Art Director of the festival is Dr. Timuçin Çevikoglu. Feridun Gündes and Burak Kaynarca are commissioned as Assistant Art Directors.
Program
Sept 22nd
Guinea
GuinéePercussions
West African Drumming
info video
Sept 23rd
Morocco
Maâlem Hamid El Kasri
Gnawa
info video
Sept 24th
India
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia
Hindustani Classical Music
info video
Sept 25th
USA
The Fairfield Four
Afro-American a Capella Gospel Music
info video
Sept 26th
Tajikistan
Davlatmand
Falak Music
info video
Sept 27th
Tibet
Monks of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery
Buddhist Ritual
info video
Sept 28th
Kyrgyzstan
Tengir Too
Kyrgyz Spiritual Music
info video
Sept 29th
Iran
Parissa
Persian Classical Music
info video
Sept 30th
Turkey
Konya Turkish Sufi Music Ensemble
Turkish Sufi Music and Sema Ceremony
info video
More at: http://www.mysticmusicfest.com
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
