Music of Islam, Vol. 14 Mystic Music Through the Ages CD

Ten years in the making, The Music of Islam series recorded in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Yemen, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran and Qatar represents the most comprehensive sound documentation available to Westerners today, of a world religion dating back to 622. Although governed by strict rules for fourteen centuries, contact with other cultures has radically affected Islamic music throughout history. As the world enters the 21st century the timing of this collection serves an even larger purpose, documenting the traditions that have survived and will continue to survive for centuries to come. Today, one fifth of the world's population, one billion people, are Muslims, occupying a large territory stretching from the Atlantic shore of north and west Africa, through west, central, and south Asia to island southeast Asia, and attracting an increasing following in India, western Europe, north America, east Asia, and southern Africa. This is a global presence which cannot be ignored.

This volume focuses on the mystic music of the Islamic world—specifically Turkish mystics. To Westerners, Islamic mysticism is practically synonymous with Sufism. Sufi poetry and music have endured for centuries in various Islamic countries. In the mystical brotherhoods music always had a revered and acknowledged place. Although the term music is never used in mystical writings, but rather listening—voice, gesture and musical instruments are all aids to the devotee in his spiritual exercise, which leads him to ecstasy and to supreme union with God. In every case, the music draws its inspiration from the text, and its structure from a sophisticated set of modes, rhythms, and traditional forms.

The tracks on this recording literally date from the 11th-20th centuries featuring many famous compositions such as Tekbir and Salavat-i Serife, known throughout the Islamic world as two of the masterworks of one of Turkey's greatest composers. Also featured are ilahis (hymns), excerpts of the sema ritual and dhikr (zikr in Turkey) ceremonies. Completing the volume is a vocal performance of Surah 19, Ayet 115-117 of the Qur'an.

the artist
The ensemble performing on this volume consists of members of the Galata Mevlevi Music and Sema Ensemble, based in Istanbul, Turkey. Most of these musicians can also be heard on Volume Nine: Mawlawiyah Music of the Whirling Dervishes (13149).

tracklist
1 SEMI-I RUHUNA CISMINI PERVANE DUSURDUM 7'11"
(My body is a moth drawn to the flame of your spirit.)
2 EY KI HEZAR AFERIN, BU NICE SULTAN OLUR 2'17"
(Oh, the Creator of thousands of beings...)
3 BAHRI UMMAN DURRIYEM, YERIM MEKANIN KANDEDIR 2'29"
(I am an ocean pearl, Where is my Home?)
4 UYAN EY GOZLERIM GAFLETTEN UYAN 2'15"
(Wake up! O my eyes, waken from sleep.)
5 YA RABBI ZATIN SIRRIDIR BU GULLERI HANDAN EDEN 4'33"
(Oh my Lord, the secret of your Essence makes these roses smile.)
6 CUN SANA GONLUM MUBTELA OLDU 2'14"
(Because you have consumed my heart...)
7 TEKBIR: ALLAHU EKBER, ALLUHU EKBER, LA ILHANE ILLALLAH 3'49"
(God is the greatest, God is the greatest.)
8 YA HAZRETI MEVLANA, HAKK DOST 8'09"
(Oh, our holy master Mevlana, beloved of God...)
9 SULTAN-I MENI, SULTAN- MENI, ENDER DIL-U CAN IMAN-I MENI 2'48"
(My Sultan, my Sultan, I believe with my heart and soul...)
10 HIZ KI IMRUZ CIHAN AN-I MAST CAN-U CIHAN SAKI-VU MIHMAN-I MAST 2'22"
(The world is ours today; the soul is our cupbearer and the world our guest.)
11 GELIN GIDELIM ALLAH YOLUNA 3'20"
(Come, let us take God's path.)
12 ALLAH EMRIN TUTALIM - RAHMETINE BATALIM 2'06"
(We will carry out God's will and fall back upon his mercy.)
13 ALMA TENDEN CANIMI - GORMEDEN CANANIMI 2'13"
(Do not take my soul from my body, until I see my beloved.)
14 SEVELIM HAZRET-I MEVLANA'YI 3'37"
(Let us revere Saint Mevlana.)
15 EY ALLAHIM BENI SENDEN AYIRMA 2'17"
(Ah, my God, do not separate me from you.)
16 HOR BAKMA SEN TOPRAGA 4'23"
(Don't see the earth as despicable...)
17 GORMEK ISTERSEN SENI - CAN ICRE ARA CANI 2'31"
(If you seek yourself, look for your self in your soul.)
18 VELILLAHIL MESRIKU VEL MAGRIB FEEYNEMA TUVELLU FESEMME VECHULLAH 3'22"
(East or West, it all belongs to God; wherever you turn God is there.)
Total Time: 63'56"