Concert: Nothingness in Sufism: The Journey of Sound and Silence

Organised by Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London, Nothingness in Sufism: The Journey of Sound and Silence will take place on Friday, 29 November 2025, at 7:00 PM at St Cyprian's Clarence Gate in London, as part of the HİÇ: In Pursuit of Nothingness exhibition programme. The concert offers a profound exploration of the Sufi notion of hiçlik—nothingness—through the intertwined languages of classical Turkish Sufi music, Alevi-Bektashi hymns, and Mevlevi ritual compositions. Drawing upon the spiritual aesthetics of sound and silence, it aims to translate the metaphysical journey of self-effacement into a musical form accessible to both the heart and the intellect.

The performance is conceived as a four-part narrative that mirrors the Sufi path toward unity: Awareness of Being, The Path of Melâmet, Dissolution in Divine Love, and Hiçlik. Each movement embodies a distinct stage of spiritual transformation, from the recognition of worldly existence to the transcendence of the self in divine presence. Through this progression, the programme reveals how Sufi thought perceives sound as a mirror of being, and silence as the ultimate expression of surrender.

The repertoire features selected works from the classical tekke tradition, Alevi-Bektashi hymns, and Mevlevi ayins, presenting the verses of Yunus Emre, Kaygusuz Abdal, Niyazî-i Mısrî, Pir Sultan Abdal, and other mystic poets whose words have shaped the spiritual and artistic imagination of Anatolia. Their poems, set to the modal structures of Turkish makam music, articulate the subtle interplay between presence and absence, longing and annihilation, word and void.

Performed by Serda Türkel Oter (vocals), Eray Cinpir (vocals and percussion), Murat Ferhat Yegül (ney), Serdar Yılmaz (qanun), and Tolga Oter (oud), the concert brings together musicians deeply rooted in the living heritage of Sufi music, uniting technical mastery with contemplative depth. Each piece is treated not as performance but as invocation—an act of remembrance that resonates with the inner rhythm of the sacred.
In this evening of sound and contemplation, you are invited to listen not only with the ear, but with the soul—to witness how the echoes of ney, the resonance of the oud, and the voice of devotion merge into stillness. Within the quietude of St Cyprian’s, Tasavvufta Hiçlik: The Journey of Sound and Silence offers a rare occasion to experience the essence of Sufi thought through the universal language of music—a journey into the heart of nothingness.

📩 Questions? Email: [email protected]

By aligning with the HİÇ: In Pursuit of Nothingness Exhibition, the concert forms part of a month-long artistic dialogue between sound and form, material and immaterial, self and surrender. Together, they invite audiences to contemplate the paradox of hiçlik—to perceive nothingness not as emptiness, but as the fertile silence in which the divine becomes audible.

Additional Information:

• Please arrive by 6:15 PM to ensure timely seating. Late entry will not be permitted after 7:15 PM to avoid disruption.
• The event lasts approximately 60 minutes with no intermission.
• St Cyprian's Clarence Gate is easily accessible by public transport; please check local routes and parking options.
• Dress code is smart casual. Please wear comfortable shoes as seating is unreserved.
• Photography and video recording during the performance are strictly prohibited to respect the sacred nature of the ceremony.
• Professional photography and videography will be carried out exclusively by authorized personnel appointed by the organizer. Please be advised that recording and photography will take place during the event for archival, marketing, and promotional purposes. By attending this event, you consent to the Yunus Emre Institute capturing and using images and footage for these purposes.
• For any inquiries, contact us at [email protected]

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Host or Publisher Yunus Emre Institute London