Within the Sema ceremony, music brought the Mevlevi followers closer to God in return for “surrendering one’s individual identity” (Textbook). The small chants in their native language and fast spinning of oneself made it look like the followers were making faster progression to stand by God’s side. The drums, especially, gave that slow but intense […]

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In a Sema ceremony, music accompanies the dance of a worship ceremony, those who participate in this have a spiritual connection with the higher power or God (Mevlevi Slides). The Sema ceremony was originally begun in Islamic religion and has continued for over thirty years. The Mevlevi’s are are a sub-order of Sufism. Sufism is […]

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Music within the Sema accompanies the dance of a worship ceremony, which brings those who are followers of the Mevlevi Order to have a closer spiritual connection with God. It is also known as the whirling ceremony, which is named after the spinning dance the sabazan (the participant) performs. The sabazan dances with eyes open […]

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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 […]

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For this blog, I want you to consider the music and dance of the Mevlevi, part of the mystical Sufi tradition of Islam, in relation to any of the spiritual/religious music that we discussed last week: Buddhist chant; gospel music (Amazing Grace); Western art music in the Christian church; or music in the synagogue (Salomon […]

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