Guest house
Mar 23, 07:34 PM
Share
Subscribe
"This piece is a sonic recreation of the Sema ceremony - a sacred ritual of the Whirling Dervishes, recorded at Istanbul’s Mevlevi center, a UNESCO-listed Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The intent was not simply to reference the ceremony but to immerse the listener in its very essence - the initiation atmosphere, the mystical ascent, the infinite rotation.
"At its core, the composition integrates a field recording of a live Sema performance, where the soft rustle of fabric and the subtle friction of feet against the floor become integral textures. These organic elements are resampled and interwoven with spiraling patterns, mirroring the continuous, meditative spin of the dervishes. Layers emerge and dissolve, forming an intricate, self-perpetuating motion - each phrase orbiting around an unseen center, drawing the listener deeper into its gravitational pull.
"Titled "Guest House", the piece draws inspiration from Rumi’s poem of the same name, which embraces life’s varied emotions as visitors to be welcomed. This concept mirrors the spiritual openness of the Sema, where every turn is an acceptance of the unknown, a gesture toward growth through experience.
"The piece explores Sufism’s philosophy through movement and sound, embracing the transformative power of whirling as a means of transcendence. Every cycle is both repetition and renewal, a gesture of devotion that stretches beyond time. With deep reverence for the ritual’s cultural and spiritual significance, the music does not merely observe but participates - not just an echo of the experience, but an extension of it."
Sama ceremony reimagined by Serge Bulat.
———————
This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.
Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage
"At its core, the composition integrates a field recording of a live Sema performance, where the soft rustle of fabric and the subtle friction of feet against the floor become integral textures. These organic elements are resampled and interwoven with spiraling patterns, mirroring the continuous, meditative spin of the dervishes. Layers emerge and dissolve, forming an intricate, self-perpetuating motion - each phrase orbiting around an unseen center, drawing the listener deeper into its gravitational pull.
"Titled "Guest House", the piece draws inspiration from Rumi’s poem of the same name, which embraces life’s varied emotions as visitors to be welcomed. This concept mirrors the spiritual openness of the Sema, where every turn is an acceptance of the unknown, a gesture toward growth through experience.
"The piece explores Sufism’s philosophy through movement and sound, embracing the transformative power of whirling as a means of transcendence. Every cycle is both repetition and renewal, a gesture of devotion that stretches beyond time. With deep reverence for the ritual’s cultural and spiritual significance, the music does not merely observe but participates - not just an echo of the experience, but an extension of it."
Sama ceremony reimagined by Serge Bulat.
———————
This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.
Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage