The Sound of Contemplation: Silence, Reflection, Devotion
Ramadan Concert Series
Taking place during the month of Ramadan, The Sound of Contemplation: Silence, Reflection, Devotion is a concert programme that brings Turkish Sufi music into dialogue with the reflective and devotional atmosphere of the holy month. The series opens in London, continues in Birmingham, and will expand to further cities across the UK, to be announced soon. Conceived as a series rather than a single performance, the programme approaches music as a practice of attentive listening, where sound and silence are held in careful balance.
Guided by the inward rhythm of Ramadan, the concerts offer evenings in which music unfolds with care and intention, allowing space for stillness alongside sound. Rather than presenting a fixed ritual structure, the programme invites listening as a contemplative act, aligned with the slower and more mindful pace of the month.
The repertoire brings together selected works from the broader tradition of Turkish Sufi music, with a particular emphasis on Ramadan hymns and devotional pieces. While drawing on familiar poetic and musical sources, the programme 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 throughout the series, 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.
Performed by Serda Türkel Oter and Eray Cinpir (vocals), with Serdar Yılmaz (London) and Koray Arısan(Birmingham and further cities) on qanun, and Tolga Oter on oud, the ensemble approaches the repertoire with a shared sensitivity to text, proportion, and musical restraint, shaping each concert as a cohesive listening experience attentive to both expression and stillness.
London
The Sound of Contemplation: Silence, Reflection, Devotion | London
Wednesday, 4 March 2026 · 7:30 pm
St Mary’s Church Islington
Held within the resonant and historic setting of St Mary’s Church, Islington, the London concert offers an intimate listening experience shaped by the contemplative atmosphere of Ramadan. The architecture of the church provides a setting in which sound, silence, and reflection can unfold with clarity and focus.
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Birmingham
The Sound of Contemplation: Silence, Reflection, Devotion | Birmingham
Saturday, 7 March 2026 · 7:30–9:00 pm
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire — Bradshaw Hall
The Birmingham concert will take place at Bradshaw Hall, one of the city’s most distinguished concert venues, located within the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Known for its exceptional acoustics and contemporary architectural design, the hall offers an ideal environment for a refined and immersive listening experience. The concert is presented in collaboration with the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, with the support of the Midlands Turkish Society.
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