Cities And Memory

"This piece is a sonic recreation of the Sema ceremony - a sacred ritual of the Whirling Dervishes, recorded at Istanbul’s Mevlevi center, a UNESCO-listed Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The intent was not simply to reference the ceremony but to immerse the listener in its very essence - the initiation atmosphere, the mystical ascent, the infinite rotation. "At its core, the composition integrates a field recording of a live Sema performance, where the soft rustle of fabric and the subtle friction of feet against the floor become integral textures. These organic elements are resampled and interwoven with spiraling patterns, mirroring the continuous, meditative spin of the dervishes. Layers emerge and dissolve, forming an intricate, self-perpetuating motion - each phrase orbiting around an unseen center, drawing the listener deeper into its gravitational pull. "Titled "Guest House", the piece draws inspiration from Rumi’s poem of the same name, which embraces life’s varied emotions as visitors to be welcome