Dervish, 2000

Franghiz Ali-Zadeh
Azerbaijan

Instrumentation:
voice, qanun (zither), tutek (flute), violin, cello, percussion

Inspired by the rhythmic similarities between the musical liturgy of Sufism (a form of mystical Islam) and mugham [moo GOM] (a complex set of modally based suites), composer and concert pianist Franghiz Ali-Zadeh recorded an authentic dervish in her native Baku as part of her research for Dervish, her Silk Road Project commission. The following text emphasizes the dervish’s ecstatic devotion to faith and truthseeking, and is based on the life of the martyred 14th century poet Nasimi who was skinned alive for his Sufi beliefs.

I am a dervish, it is strange;
I have nothing, but I am the king of the universe;
I am invisible, my body is transparent;
When I am in a good temper, my spirit begins to shine;
I am nowhere and I am everywhere;
I combine all forces of nature: fire, water, air, earth.

I am a messenger;
I was sent here by God and he speaks through me;
I am beyond the law of the common people;
I will not be dismayed if they do not let me into Paradise,
Because Paradise is within me;
Eh Nasimi! It is you who were chosen by God.

Ali-Zadeh artfully couples the rapturous musings of the dervish (performed in Silk Road Ensemble concerts by legendary Azeri bard Alim Qasimov) with a sextet of traditional Azeri and Western instruments, including the tutek [TOO tek] (wooden flute), qanun [KAH noon] (plucked zither), gosha nagara [go SHAH na GOR ah] (kettle drums), and Western string trio. In so doing, she creates a unique contemporary musical language that evokes the traditional rhythms and harmonies of the mugham.