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Blog 9 Peltonen

According to the textbook, in honor of Mevlana Celeladdin Rumi, Mevlevi was founded after his death. It is a suborder of the mystical branch of Islam. Every order shares the belief that there is a universal God with whom it is possible to experience direct spiritual union. This requires meditation and contemplation. The music within the Sema ceremony sends the practitioner’s body into a slow dance of graceful and ecstatic turning. The dance during the ceremony also reflects the connection to God. Instruments including the kemence, plucked lutes, and percussion instruments create melodies that are lengthy and rhythmically complex. Amazing Grace, according to the textbook as well, describes the hymn with a diatonic melody and a message of personal transformation that is the ultimate musical testament to the Christin doctrine of salvation. There are many different versions of the hymn but each uses the same lyrics. Each version creates emotions among the audience and singers. In the Sacred Harp version of the hymn, the music is used to create community spirit and honest expression. These two traditions have similarities because of their message of spirituality. Each hymn is used to connect to God. Although the message is similar, differences include dancing during while the music is playing and where the hymn is performed. Amazing Grace can be sung during terrorist attacks and marathons while being used in a sacred place as well. Also, during the hymn, no dancing is usually done, which is different than Mevlevi.