NCPA presents Sama’a: The Mystic Ecstasy – Festival of Sufi Music on 17th Wednesday to 19th Friday at 7.00 pm at NCPA
NCPA presents Sama'a - The Mystic Ecstasy
Based on the mystical branch of Islam, Sufi music seeks to unite listeners with the Divine. The pain of separation from the Creator is at the core of Sufi lyrics and music; and hence the longing to dissolve the physical realm and transcend into the spiritual Universe with Sama’a, the practice of listening to music, chanting and whirling, finally culminating in spiritual ecstasy. Sufi music is practiced in different regions of the world through myriad genres.
17th November
An Ode to Rumi: Presentation based on the Poetry of Mevlana Rumi by Kabir Bedi, Experimental Theatre
Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi (1207-1273), popularly known as Mevlana Rumi, was a 13th century Persian poet, jurist, theologian and Sufi mystic who composed one of the crowning glories of Persian literature, which profoundly affected the Persian cultural sphere of Khorasan. The Mevlawiya order, which is based on Rumi’s philosophy, is popularly also known as the order of the ‘whirling dervishes’, and is recognised for the practice of Sama’a.
Although originally written in Persian, Rumi’s poems have been widely translated into many international languages including Urdu and Punjabi. Rumi’s works transcend national and ethnic borders and seem to be relevant even today across varied cultures.
Blessed with a sonorous voice Kabir Bedi, one of India’s best-known international actors, will read a selection of Rumi’s poetry with excerpts of music in the background. The presentation will be divided into five parts: The Seeker, Finding Love, Tasting the Divine, The Awakening and Union with the Divine.
Concept & design: Jai and Taru Talwar
Tickets: Rs. 300 & 200/-
18th November
Nuba Awamrya: Brotherhood music by Hadra Sidi Mansour ensemble and Qawwali by Haji Aslam Sabri
and group, Tata Theatre
Courtesy: Ministry of Culture and Heritage Preservation, Republic of Tunisia
In North African countries like Tunisia, Sufi thoughts find expression through “Brotherhood music” practised by several sects following the Sufi doctrine.
Originally, the term Hadra denoted a mystical congregation of Sufi followers. Today, moving from religious to secular realm, it refers to spiritual and musical sessions in praise of saints, although retaining some of its ritualistic association. The Hadra is inconceivable without its association with the practice of trance, which is facilitated with intoxicating rhythms, meaningful poetry and intense body movements. The traditional Hadra repertoire has its origin in the classical Tunisian form called ma’louf, which also has traces of musical heritage brought by the Andalusian emigrants. Integral to the practice of Hadra are percussion instruments like the tambourine, known locally as the bandir, an earthen hand drum known as darbuka and another tambourine known as tar, and a wind instrument zukra or zurna. The lyrics of the songs are based on popular poetry (azjal) that has a mix of essentially classical and colloquial Arabic.
The Sidi Mansour ensemble will present the repertoire of the Awamrya order prevalent in the region of Sabel and Sfax in Tunisia. The group of eight members including singers, instrumentalists and a dancer will present recitations, songs and instrumental pieces based on a form known as nauba that consists of a sequence of musical sections, both instrumental and vocal, following a single mode and classified in terms of rhythms with increasing tempo and accent. This special repertoire has been transmitted orally through generations and retains flavour of the Mediterranean coast of North Africa.
Qawwali
In the Indian subcontinent Sufi music finds expression through ghazal, qawwali and various folk forms from Rajasthan, Punjab & Sindh, based on the poetry of mystic poets including Baba Bulleh Shah (1680 – 1758), Shah Abdul Latif Bhatai (1689 – 1752) and others. Although performed mainly at Sufi shrines (dargahs), today these genres, especially the qawwali associated with the Chishtiya order, has gained mainstream popularity. This Indian order, like the Mevlawiya order in Turkey, is known for the practice of Sama’a – the spiritual crescendo through music.
Haji Aslam Sabri hails from a Sufi family connected with the Chishtiya order. The ensemble will present works of Amir Khusrau (1253-1325), Baba Bulleh Shah, Bedam Warsi and others in various languages.
Tickets: Rs.500, 300, 200 & 100/-
19th November
Sufiana compositions by Roopkumar and Sunali Rathod, Tata Theatre
The singing duo, Roopkumar and Sunali Rathod, create magic with the sheer beauty of their mellifluous voices and the chemistry they share, which is hard to miss.
Born in to a musical family, Roopkumar’s wide repertoire covers Ghazal, Bhajan, Sufi, Light Classical and more. He is a versatile musician: competent as a singer, percussionist and also composer and playback artiste for films in many languages. His love for poetry has led him to sing verses of poets from Ghalib to Gulzar and saints from Mirabai to Sant Tukaram with equal panache.
With a sound training in classical and light music genres, Sunali’s smooth and eloquent musical expression is imbued with spontaneity and grace. Individually and as a duo, both Roopkumar and Sunali have worked with poets, artistes and composers of great repute, and have published numerous albums that have enthralled the music loving audiences all over the world.
The duo will present selected Sufiana songs from some of their most exquisite albums of ghazals and Bollywood songs.
Tickets: Rs.500, 300, 200 & 100/-
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