The Sound of Contemplation

The Sound of Contemplation: Silence, Reflection, Devotion

An evening of Turkish Sufi music shaped by the reflective and devotional atmosphere of Ramadan, inviting attentive listening through sound.

Following its London presentation, The Sound of Contemplation: Silence, Reflection, Devotion will be presented for the first time in Birmingham, taking place at The Bradshaw Hall in response to strong local interest and audience demand.

Organised by Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London, the concert brings Turkish Sufi music into dialogue with the reflective and devotional atmosphere of the holy month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is a time shaped by attentiveness, restraint, and inward reflection. Drawing on this shared sensibility, the concert offers an evening where music unfolds with care and intention, allowing space for both sound and silence. Rather than presenting a fixed ritual structure, the programme invites listening as a contemplative act, aligned with the slower and more mindful rhythm of the month.

The repertoire brings together selected works from the broader tradition of Turkish Sufi music, with particular emphasis on Ramadan hymns and devotional pieces. While the programme draws on familiar poetic and musical sources, it is shaped specifically for the holy month, foregrounding themes of devotion, humility, and remembrance. Musical expression remains measured and unhurried, guided by balance and pacing, allowing each piece to breathe and the listener to remain within a reflective and grounded state.

Poetry plays a central role in the programme, with verses by Yunus Emre and other Anatolian Sufi poets whose words resonate closely with the ethical and spiritual tone of Ramadan. Set within the modal language of Turkish makam music, these texts unfold gradually, encouraging reflection rather than immediacy, and allowing meaning to emerge through attentive listening.

The concert is performed by Serda Türkel Oter and Eray Cinpir (vocals), with Serdar Yılmaz on qanun and Tolga Oter on oud. The ensemble approaches the repertoire with a shared sensitivity to text, proportion, and musical restraint, shaping the programme as a cohesive listening experience attentive to both expression and stillness.

Designed for audiences attentive to musical form, poetic depth, and spiritual context, The Sound of Contemplation: Silence, Reflection, Devotion offers an intimate and focused listening experience. Within the resonant space of The Bradshaw Hall, the concert invites listeners to pause, listen closely, and encounter Sufi music as a reflective practice deeply in tune with the spirit of Ramadan.

Running time approx one hour and 30 minutes

Established in 2010, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London promotes Turkish culture, arts, and language in the UK. As part of a global network of 90+ centres worldwide, the Institute delivers cultural programmes, concerts, exhibitions, and language courses, fostering dialogue and connection between Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

Website: www.yeelondon.org.uk
Social Media: @yeelondranis-tosca