MCM/M-N. Robert
AUSTRALIAN
Premiere
Kudsi Erguner
ENSEMBLE
Virtuoso ney player Kudsi Erguner brings his ensemble of
vocalists, percussionists and traditional instrumentalists to
BMW Edge to perform two distinct concerts each presenting a
very different side to the music of Sufism
Kudsi Erguner is the best-known player of the Turkish ney flute, the traditional
reed instrument of Sufi music. His artistic and professional development was
influenced by the contacts he had with many famous musicians from the old
generation who were often coming to his parents’ house in Istanbul, and
more than that by the musical and spiritual teachings coming from his direct
participation with the Sufi brotherhoods, like the Mevlevi Dervish, better
known as ‘whirling dervishes’.
Erguner has given concerts throughout the world. He has researched the
music of India, Pakistan and Turkey, founded diverse music ensembles,
recorded numerous albums and has worked with such well known artists as
Maurice Bejart, Peter Gabriel, Peter Brook and Robert Wilson. Erguner has
made authoritative contributions to World Music and has documented and
revived nearly forgotten musical traditions, bringing them to the attention of
the western public, securing them a place within Europe’s cultural inheritance.
Sufism is the name given to Islamic wisdom and mysticism. It arose around
the 7th century, a time of huge social upheaval and rapid expansion of
the Muslim community. Sufism developed through a shared concern – that
of finding a way back to a deep pure faith founded on the fusion of the
individual with God though the force of mystical love.
Federation Square, BMW Edge
Sufi Jazz Fusion
Sufi Invocations
Fri 24 Oct at 7pm
Thu 23 Oct at 7pm
1hr 15min no interval
Sufi Invocations centres around Erguner’s ecstatic Zikr which are
compositions for the whirling dervishes ceremony. With his compositions
Erguner translates the atmosphere of these ceremonies into the universal
language of music, a music which remains very near to the source, and yet
flows into the endless ocean of sound.
Based on the invocation of divine names, the Zikr takes place in several steps
and leads towards ecstatic communion with God. Chanted in time to the
beats, the invocations gradually transform into an affecting torrent of inhaled
and exhaled syllables, punctuated by movements of the followers.
SUFI JAZZ FUSIOn Concert
Sufi Jazz Fusion integrates the classical music of the Ottoman Empire with
western jazz improvisations and rhythms. With the ensemble on one side, and
three great musicians from Melbourne’s jazz scene on the other, Sufi Jazz
Fusion creates a beautiful fusion of these seemingly disparate genres. The
immensely soft and tender sounding Turkish violin comfortably modulates
almost like a jazz instrument, whereas the guitar and bass can almost pass as
Oriental instruments. Pulling it altogether are the tones of Erguner’s ney, this
storytelling reed flute, which has long since been at home in both houses.
Full
Groups (8+)
Conc
MF-Y
$30
$27
$22.50
$25
Ticketmaster 1300 136 166
www.melbournefestival.com.au
Discounts apply. Save up to 20%
See page 2 for details.
1hr 15min no interval
Supported by
SUFI INVOCATIONS Concert
Produced by Imaj-Paris in
collaboration with Change
Performing Arts.
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