In this episode, I am once again joined by Gerald Ilyas Klawatsch, Sufi musician, music therapist, and founder of the international musical ensemble Ak Pirim.
Ilyas presents the sacred music of Sufism, explains its various instruments and principles, and performs musical pieces live.
Ilyas tells stories of discipleship under his Sufi master, recounts profound moments of spiritual bliss, and reflects on the power of music for emotional healing.
Ilyas also explains the role of ecstatic trance in Sufism and reveals special breathing techniques to induce transcendent states.
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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep338-sacred-sufi-music-the-art-of-ecstasy-gerald-ilyas-klawatsch-2
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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00:00 - Intro
00:47 - Combining spiritual life with the arts
04:46 - Beauty as a quality of the Divine
07:37 - Sacred calligraphy
11:36 - Music as the main spiritual art
13:!6 - A Sufi creation story
16:32 - How Ilyas learned Sufi music
22:52 - Mystical drunkenness
26:59 - Ney, the Sufi flute
32:03 - Performance: Ney flute
32:52 - A story of a Ney master
35:03 - Music and poetry
36:44 - Arabian maqam
38:51 - About the Oud
40:42 - Performance: Oud
42:25 - Zikr
43:41 - About the Bendhir
44:06 - Performance: Bendhir
44:29 - Performance: Oud
45:37 - Trance, ecstasy, and hyperventilation
50:22 - Awakening the heart
53:08 - Two personal stories of Ilyas’ spiritual and music master
59:53 - About the Rebâb
01:02:34 - Performance: Rebâb
01:03:46 - Music therapy
01:05:28 - Healing and personal expression
01:10:06 - A story of Ilyas’ music master
01:12:55 - Shamanism and music
01:14:13 - Performance: Bendhir Sufi song
01:15:25 - Performance: Bendhir shamanic song
01:17:05 - About the Qyl-Qobyz, a shamanic instrument
01:18:28 - About the Çeng harp
01:19:43 - Performance: Çeng harp
01:21:08 - Where to hear more of Ilyas’ music
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Previous episode with Gerald Ilyas Klawatsch:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=ilyas
To find out more about Gerald Ilyas Klawatsch, visit:
- https://bengusu.com/g-ilyas-klatsch/
- https://www.youtube.com/@akpirimensemble
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
