On Rumi's Trail, Davod Azad Interview in Miami

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• published: 06 May 2014
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On April 12th, Biscayne Bay campus once again witnessed a sensational Persian concert, this time Davod Azad the renowned world music artist. Being a follower of Persian Sufi and Mysticism school of thought, Azad boards the audience on an unworldly ship, on a voyage to another dimension in time. The audience explored a specific genre of traditional Persian music called Khaneghahi. The concert consisted of two acts, starring Davod Azad on Tanbour, Taar and Oud (Persian string instruments), accompanied by Reza Filsoofi, a well-known Miami-based instrumental artist, on Tonbak, Daf and drums (Persian drum instruments). The first act consisted of six pieces in Shour, Mahour and Shooshtari (Persian musical modal systems). Azad elaborated on the pieces and explained that Khaneghahi music is the apparatus to connect the audience to the divine being. Mentioned is the path of Sufis to affiliate with the unity of existence. The second act contained seven pieces in Bayat-Esfahan, Shour and Nava (Persian musical modal systems). The poetry of Azad, infused with the delicacy of Filsoofi created a hypnotic trance atmosphere, which dwelled relentlessly. The crowd, old and young, oblivious of time and place, waxed and waned with the music. The verse Ma'shoogh Leili Leili (my lover Leili, Leili) was repeated and repeated by Azad. Filsoofi stroke passionately on Daf. The rhythm went higher and higher and hearts beat faster and faster. One could almost glimpse a group of dervishes entering the concert hall one after another: With their hands crossed on their chests and wearing cloud white gowns, they bow respectfully to the audience and start to whirl into Sa'ma (Sufi dance). Spiritual poems flowed in the hall, inundated with divinity: Without love, the world is an entire pain... My lover came to me at last... A moaning heart is a sign of love... The history of Sufism dates back to the ancient times in Iran. However it was officially acknowledged in the 9th century A.D. Sufi hymn is a devotional music owing its poetry and philosophy to the all-time Iranian poet Rumi. Accredited by other famous Iranian poets and theologians such as Hafez, Abū Sa`īd Abū-l-Khair and Attar among many others, Sufism is mainly defined as an eternal philosophy of existence that pre-dates religion. Some also believe it is the mystical dimension of Islam. Regardless of its definition, Sufism is a school of self-realization. Sufis believe in the possibility of embracing oneness and the divine presence of God in this life, not in another, not in heavens. Sa'ma or the whirling dance of the Sufis is a ceremony performed in remembrance of God. Sa'ma means listening to the sounds of this world and another (the realm of God). The whirling dervish is on a pilgrim within; his Ka'ba (the holy house of God for Muslims) is his own being: O pilgrims, thou art where? Thou art where? The beloved is neigh, come hither, come hither "Rumi" Each order of Sufism, based on their culture, language, and customs has its own style and Mugham (Persian music modal systems). Structure is based on quaternary (Hayullah Mugham) or binary (Da-eem Mugham) rhythms. It is usually kept simple to accord with the Sa'ma dance (the primary role of Khaneghah music). Davod Azad is one of the pioneers in introducing the Nimatullahi Order in Iran. As a composer, vocalist and instrumentalist he has led a solo career performing in Iran, North America, Europe, Bhutan, Australia, India, etc. as well as many international venues and radio stations such as Radio Culture House in Austria. He is the first to have fused the Iranian traditional music with western classical (Bach) resulting in the album "Divan of Rumi & Bach". Being an absolute enthusiast of collaborative music, he has played along versatile musical forms such as Jazz, Blues, western and eastern classical. His tours are widely received worldwide and his fans embody heterogeneous nationalities and races. Reza Filsoofi, also an instrumentalist, is a local Iranian artist in South Florida. He has gained his knowledge from master musicians in Iran and ever since has been performing and teaching both in Iran and the United States. He stages numerous events and festivals in an effort to introduce Persian classical music to both Iranians living abroad and non-Iranian audiences. He has formed the first official traditional Persian ensemble in Florida named "Caravan Ensemble" as well as collaborating with other musicians. Having generously welcomed the international artists and musicians, Biscayne Bay campus is looking forward to the future events for the upcoming moths hosted by Iranian Cultural Society of South Florida. By Samannaz K.P.