The Vashaan Iranian Folk Ensemble. | Photo courtesy of Caravan BC
Renowned Turkish musician Omar Faruk Tekbilek, 62, has composed over a hundred songs on a variety of different themes. He finds, however, that songs about divine love – Sufi songs – are the most appealing.
“Sufism is adoration to the one and only creator and adoration of all creatures. It’s about love, respect for others, respect for others’ beliefs and sincerity,” Tekbilek explains. “We share our passion, our love and our joy with the audience.”
Inspired by his Islamic faith, Tekbilek’s songs are a celebration of these concepts. Local audiences will have a chance to share in this experience during a performance entitled Sufi Journeys, taking place at the Chan Centre on Feb. 15. The event promises an evening of music, singing and whirling dervishes.
Music and dance as translation of a culture
Sufi Journeys will feature Tekbilek and his ensemble along with guest Vancouver tabla player Stefan Cihelka. Tekbilek is a master of several instruments, including the ney, zurna, baglama and oud. His ensemble also includes sounds produced by santur, percussion and keyboards.
Sufi Journeys will also feature the Vashaan Iranian Folk Ensemble as well as renowned Whirling Dervish Raqib Brian Burke and his own guest ensemble.
Members of The Vashaan Ensemble all live in the Lower Mainland but the group’s roots lie in the Iranian classical tradition. The ensemble comprises Reza Honari (kamanche and arrangement), his wife Fathieh (vocals), son Hamin (percussion) and friends Ali Razmi (tar), Saina Khaledi (santur) and Ali Sajjadi (oud).
For Honari, 58, Sufism reflects some of the best aspects of Islam, including love, kindness and self-knowledge. He points to the strong relationship between Sufism and Persian music. Sufism originated in Iran and is closely linked to Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, a famous Persian poet.
“I know Rūmī is well-known. The translation of his poetry was a best-seller,” Honari says.
But he acknowledges the difficulty of translating the full experience of Rūmī’s poetry and hopes that their performance might help bridge the gap.
“The music will convey feeling even if the audience doesn’t understand the words,” Honari says.
Burke, 61, who has studied Sufism for 40 years, likewise considers this performance to be an attempt to translate Sufism into “Canadian,” as he puts it.
“Sufism is one of the most beautiful ways of having an ethical life,” Burke explains. He notes that North Americans have a unique view of Sufism, which is itself very diverse.
‘Come, come, whoever you are’
The Sufi Journeys performers believe in building affinity, both with each other and with their audience, during a performance.
“The audience are mirrors reflecting back joy, with shining eyes and some with tears in eyes,” Tekbilek says, explaining that he is very happy to be working with good musicians who want to share joy.
He also says that he expects the enjoyment to be multiplied during numbers where all three groups of performers will perform together.
Burke hopes that the audience will be participants as well as active listeners, and that both the performers and the audience will reach a sense of timelessness and togetherness that he says is one of the gifts of inner awareness.
“The audience can consider themselves part of the music,” he says.
Honari says that he looks forward to working with his fellow performers, and to introducing his culture to the audience.
“I think it’s going to be a beautiful experience, both for us and for the audience. I think it’s going to be a complete Sufi experience,” he says.
Sufi Journeys: Through Turkey, Iran & Beyond
will be at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts on Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
For more information on the performance and how to get tickets,
please go to http://www.caravanbc.com.
