DERVICHES TOURNEURS D'ISTANBUL
Sufi music and dance
Formed in 2006, the Derviches Tourneurs d’Istanbul Ensemble has performed at the Philharmonie de Paris, Fez Sacred Music Festival (Morocco), Megaron Concert Hall (Athens), Salle Peyel (Paris), Monaco Convention Center, Rimini Festival (Italy), Le Lieu Unique (Nantes), Bodrum Ancient Theater (Turkey), Palais de Chaillot (Paris), Samothrace World Music Festival (Greece), Phaselis Festival (Antalya Ancient Theater), Archaeological Site of Elefsina (Athens) and more.
The Derviches Tourneurs d’Istanbul, led by Mete Edman, form an ensemble who have embraced Sufism as a spiritual path. They perpetuate the humanist spirit and philosophy of the great Mevlana Jalal ad-Din Rûmî. The orchestra accompanies the whirling dervishes in an authentic ceremony, set to the hymns of great Sufi composers.
The Ensemble is one of the few to have reintegrated women into the sema (the whirling ritual), thus reconnecting with the original spirit of Sufism ; and the orchestra is composed of the finest musicians of Türkiye, graduated from the most prestigious State conservatories.
© William Beaucardet
In some performances, the Byzantine Choir of Athens (from the Association of Music Lovers of Constantinople) joins the Derviches Tourneurs d’Istanbul. Together, they present the show "ISTANBUL: From Byzantine Chant to Sufi Tradition". It is an extraordinary meeting of two major liturgical music traditions of Istanbul: one Christian, dating back to the 4th century during the Byzantine Empire; the other born under the impulse of the mystical order of the Mevlevis (Sufis), founded in the 12th century by the great master Mevlana Jalal ad-Din Rumi.
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) symbolizes 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.
PERFORMANCES
Philharmonie de Paris on 09/13/2025
Archaeological Site of Eleusis (Greece) on 09/27/2025
In the frame of the 3rd New Eleusis Symposion
Event link
Megaron Athens Concert Hall (Greece) on 09/29/2025
Event link
© William Beaucardet
© William Beaucardet
© William Beaucardet
MEDIA
“Istanbul at the crossroad of the sacred music”
Event at the Paris Philharmonic.
Text by Sami Sadak published on 08/28/2025.
“Sufism: the ritual dimension of music, from Mayotte to Istanbul and Tajikistan”
Event at the Paris Philharmonic.
Program by Véronique Gaymard on radio RFI published on 10/05/2025.
Event link (Sequence with the Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul and the Byzantine Choir of Athens from 22:03 to 35:58)
PRODUCTION
Derviches Tourneurs d’Istanbul
Ensemble conducted by Mete Edman
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
Concept & Production CaféTurc Music & Arts
© William Beaucardet
© William Beaucardet
VIDEOS
