Sufi Chanting From Syria: Dhikr Qâdirî Khâlwatî

DHIKR QADIRI KHALWATI - "Sufi Chanting from Syria"
INEDIT, 2002

I have no idea what the name of this group actually is. Even after browsing the comprehensive liner notes, I can't separate artist from location, name of ceremony, or specific musical tradition. Sorry. What I can tell you is that this is mystical chanting by a men's cantorial group from the ancient city of Aleppo, in a form that goes back several centuries. The CD was recorded at a live concert in Paris, and is meant to demonstrate the progression of a ceremony in which the chanters try to reach God through invocation, movement, and recitation of holy poetry. The 10-member chorus is unaccompanied, except for a single drum on tracks 2 & 6.

Fo's Picks: 2, 4, 6, 8

01. 11:52 - slow intro; develops into layers; shifts to new chant after 6 minutes.
02. 10:19 - solo praise of Allah; followed by a series of uptempo poems with drum
03. 09:29 - slow, deliberate chant that gradually speeds up; starts over after 5 mins.
04. 17:55 - fascinating progression of low chants under a long devotional poem
05. 07:13 - almost silent first minute; dirge-like chant and solo lead; slowly rises
06. 08:36 - simple chant and drum propel lead voices forward; speeds up; starts over
07. 02:57 - mid/uptempo unison chant; quiet turbulence at end
08. 03:46 - churning rhythm under steady lead; if you want something short, try this

[Fo] - 4/18/03