Moshtagh Ensemble is celebrated as Inheritor to Iran’s Alevi (Ahl-e Haqq – Yarsani) Rites’ Music; over the years, the ensemble dedicated efforts to determine, explore, uncover, and compose underground, enigmatic, and ancient melodies of the Alevi.
The group was founded on early 1970s by the Spiritual Educator of a congregation of Alevi in Northwestern Iran; the congrations called themselves Che’hel Tan’aan. Moshtagh Ensemble remained underground for many long years, and performed only in Alevi Ritual Sessions which took place in secret in Azerbijan, Iran. Alevi Rites and Music are inseparable; without music, the ceremonies don’t take place.
Year 2002 was marked by the first public performance of the group, in Tabriz City, Azerbaijan, Iran. Through their performance, Moshtaghs strive to share some of the splendor of the Rite with other communities; they strive to enhance the modern human life with divine riches, thus keeping the highly cherished heritage from fading into oblivion.
Alevi of Iran have always been subject to state instigated cruelty, violence, and persecution. They have often been banished, and exiled. They were hanged, their house and home set on fire. The gloomy, bitter experiences, over time, led the survivors into withdrawn, reserved individuals. To keep alive, and to keep the Ancient Rituals alive, they kept away from the society at-large, in clusters with other Alevi. They lived a harsh life on the mountainsides, remote deserted outskirts of cities, where living and upbringing a family was almost impossible. They conditioned themselves into inoffensive cynics in the face of strangers but kept their innate enthusiasm and tolerance alive deep down in accordance with the wisdoms of their Rite.
Moshtagh Ensemble believes time is exceptionally scars to exhaust it on cynicism: If we don’t make use of the time at hand to interconnect with one another now, we’ll regret it tomorrow; must make the most of the little chance we’ve got. The Rite’s music is the music to worship the Sun. Over the centuries, those committed to this Ritual begun the day gazing into the Sunrise. They believe the spirit of life is embedded in the Sun. Mithra, for the Alevi, precedes History, and Tanbur precedes Mithra. Under social and political norms, people leave people with no other choice but to dig the ground and hide away. Thus, one might come to the conclusion that it’s about time we stopped digging the ground, stood up, traced our steps back to a safe, sound environment where fellow human being respected one another’s dignity? We need one another, and we need to see the light of day; darkness, and separation we do not need.
Moshtagh Members believe that the ancient music of Alevi would and could bring to life compassion and friendship. Above language, race, gender, historical and geographical borders, is Music. Along their path, Moshtagh Ensemble have travelled beyond the borders of geography, and language.
Relying on collective roots of the Rite’s music among Turks, Kurds, and Arabs, collaborating with likeminded musicians of various ethnic backgrounds, Moshtaghs aim at delivering the splendor, equally to all people. The only two Instruments played by the Moshtagh’s are Tanbur and Def; the songs are sung by all members of the ensemble, as the rituals instructs.
Performers are dedicated to the originality of the present moment. They refrain from recording and publishing, as much as possible, prefer to connect with their audience face to face.
more Information: Tanbour, Daf, Baglama & Alevi (Ahl-e Haqq – Yarsani)