Events List

Latif Bolat:
Turkish Mystic Sufi Musician, Singer and Composer
Visit to Edinburgh

Evening Event and Day Workshop

Organised by
Edinburgh International Centre for Spirituality and Peace,
EICSP, Scottish Charity, SC038996

1. Event: Healing Sounds of the Wandering Dervishes of Turkey:
Turkish Mystic Sufi Music, Poetry, Stories and Images with Latif Bolat.

Venue: Sanctuary, Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL.
Date: Friday 15 June 2012.
Time: Doors Open: 7pm. Evening Event: 7.30pm-9.30pm.

Event Description: Turkish Mystic Sufi musician, singer and composer Latif Bolat will present mystic Sufi music, poetry, stories and images of the Wandering Dervishes from the ancient land of Turkey. Travelling from the Mediterranean city of Mersin in Turkey, Latif Bolat plays Turkish Folk ballads and ecstatic devotional Sufi songs. These are the ritualistic music and poetry of the Anatolian mystics since the 12th Century. From the horrifying years of the Crusaders and Genghis Khan's destruction in the Middle East, through to the present days, people found great comfort in this Sufi culture. Throughout, Latif Bolat will also recite devotional poetry from 13th Century Sufi poets Yunus Emre, Rumi and other ancient poets, and will show images of the Turkish people and sacred places from the land of Anatolia.

One of the most well-known Turkish musicians in the US, his mesmerizing performances draw on ancient texts and employ traditional instrumentation such as the Saz (long necked lute).  Now partially residing in New Mexico and Turkey, Latif Bolat has presented his music all across America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, Bulgaria, Spain, Turkey, the Philippines, Ireland, England and Scotland. In addition to the workshops, music events and lectures around the world, he has recorded 4 very successful CDs, made many TV and Radio appearances, and composed music for the PBS Documentary “Muhammed: Legacy of a Prophet,” and George Lucas’s TV series “Young Indiana Jones.” He is also the co-author of the compilation book of ancient Turkish Sufi poets entitled “Quarrelling with God: Mystic Rebel Poems of the Dervishes of Turkey.” Latif Bolat has recently performed at the Carnegie Hall in NYC and received the Best Collaboration CD Award from the European Union for his work with the Bulgarian Jazz group Lot Lorien. Latif Bolat Website: www.latifbolat.com

Cost: £10. For a Registration Form:
Contact: Neill Walker, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 0131 331 4469.

On-Line Booking

2. Event: Day Workshop: Sufi Mystic Poetry and Storytelling since Prophet Muhammed.

Venue: Sanctuary, Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL.
Date: Saturday 16 June 2012.
Time: Registration: 9.30am-10am. Workshop: 10am-4.30pm. Lunch Break: 1pm-2pm.

Event Description: In this workshop, we'll review the development of Sufi mystic poetry and storytelling within the religion of Islam starting from the time of Prophet Muhammed and after. These developments will be taken from historical, spiritual and artistic dimensions. In addition to the history and philosophy of Sufi poetry and storytelling, we'll concentrate on the artistic expressions of the Sufi mystics for the past 1,000 years, especially from the Turkish perspective. We'll review the poetry of Yunus Emre, Rumi, Nesimi and many other Bektashi poets. We'll work on the songs of these Wandering Dervishes from the 12th century on. You can expect to go home with a good understanding of the Turkish mystic Sufi poetry and storytelling of the past 1,000 years after this workshop.

Cost: £25/£20 (Concessions). For a Registration Form:
Contact: Neill Walker, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 0131 331 4469.

On-Line Booking