Derviches Tourneurs d’Istanbul

Formed in 2006, the Derviches Tourneurs d’Istanbul Ensemble has performed on prestigious stages such as the Philharmonie de Paris, the Fez Sacred Music Festival (Morocco), Palais de Chaillot (Paris), Bodrum Ancient Theater (Turkey) etc.

Led by Mete Edman, they form a mixed-gender ensemble — women and men — who have embraced Turkish Sufism as a spiritual path. The ensemble accompanies the whirling dervishes in an authentic ceremony, set to the hymns of great Sufi composers.

The Whirling Dervishes, members of the Mevlevi order founded by Mevlana Jalal ad-Din Rûmî’s disciples in the 12th century, embody a mystical tradition rooted in medieval Islam. Their philosophy, influenced by Rûmî and his master Shams al-Dîn Tabrîzî, a heterodox Ismaili spiritual guide, advocates the quest for the absolute through art and music.

A danced ritual, the sema unites the dancer with the sacred in a mystical ecstasy. The ney (flute), symbol of the soul in search of its Beloved, accompanies the ceremony along with other traditional instruments, creating a captivating and spiritual atmosphere. This ceremony, which means “spiritual hearing”, symbolizes the cosmic movement. The dervish, with open — right hand turned to the sky, left hand to the earth — becomes the intermediary of divine grace. His attire is rich with symbolism: the sikke (hat) symbolises the tombstone of the ego, the white robe (tennure) the shroud, and the black cloak the grave. Before spinning, the dervish crosses his arms over his chest — a gesture evoking divine unity.

Orchestra
Mete Edman, oud & vocals
Emre Isik, ney
Mustafa Dedeoglu, qanun
Kaan Sezerler, kemenche
Rifat Caliskan, bendir

Dancers
Pinar Yatarkalkmaz
Deniz Evren Gügüs
Gökhan Denkel
Erdinç Mustafa Kızılöz
Gökhan Demir

Artistic Director Kenan Öztürk
Production Director Ekim Öztürk
Management CaféTurc Music & Arts www.cafeturc.com