Ara Dinkjian

Sufi is a devotional musical tradition rooted in Islamic mysticism that seeks to induce remembrance of the Divine (dhikr) and transport performers and listeners toward spiritual ecstasy (wajd). It is not a single uniform style, but a family of practices that vary across regions—most notably Persian/Iranian, Anatolian/Turkish (Mevlevi), Arab, and South Asian (qawwali, kafi). Musically, Sufi repertoire tends to revolve around repetitive, mantra-like refrains, call-and-response between lead and chorus, and gradual intensification over cyclical rhythms. Melodic language draws from regional modal systems such as the Persian dastgāh, Ottoman/Turkish makam, and South Asian raga, and is often supported by drones. Texts are central: poetry by mystic masters like Rumi, Hafez, Bullhe Shah, and Amir Khusrau is sung in Persian, Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic, Turkish, and other languages. Instrumentation varies by locale—harmonium, tabla/dholak, tanpura, and clapping in South Asia; ney, kudüm, bendir, and tanbur in Turkey; oud and frame drums across the Arab world—yet the unifying aim is spiritual uplift and inner transformation.

The Qanun (also spelled Kanun) is a traditional Middle Eastern string instrument and musical style characterized by its trapezoidal box zither shape and unique melodramatic, ethereal sound. It is a central instrument in Arabic, Turkish, and Armenian classical music (Maqam), known for its ability to produce microtones via small levers called 'mandals'. The music is typically monophonic or heterophonic, featuring intricate melodic lines, rapid tremolos, and sweeping glissandos. It is often played solo (Taksim) or as the leader of a traditional ensemble (Takht), providing both percussive attack and sustained resonance.