Biography

BROUKAR was founded in 2007 in Damascus, SyriaThe city of Damascus has long been one of the Arab World’s center for cultural and artistic innovation, especially in the field of classical Arab music. The group plays traditional Arab music (singing and instrumental music), with secular and religious topics as well.  Indeed, Sufi singing comes from Sufism, a practice of Islam, and is directly associated with the Whirling Dervish dance.  This dance is based primarily on the rotation and hand movements in reference to the name of God. The dervish ceremony represents a mystical journey of man’s spiritual ascent through mind and love to “Perfect”. Turning towards the truth, his growth through love, desert his ego, find the truth and arrive to the “Perfect”, then he return from this spiritual journey as a man who reached maturity and a greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation, to all creatures without discrimination of believes, races, classes and nations. This is dervish way of conveying God’s spiritual gift to the people upon whom he looks with the eyes of God. Revolving around the heart, from right to left, he embraces all the mankind, all the creation with affection and love… It starts with an eulogy to the Prophet, who represents love, and all Prophets before him. To praise them is praising God, who created all of them The musicians are all part of several Arabic orchestras, teaching Arab music and have studied in prestigious schools as the higher Institute of Music in Damascus. BROUKAR is the name of an ancient hand made precious fabric from Damascus.  On tour: 8 persons:  5 musicians /Oud_Kanun_Naï_Percussions_singer_2 Dervish whirling dancers + 1 tour manager.