Release date: 12/12/2005
For attention: news/features editor, arts editor, Middle East editor, Religion
editor
Edinburgh Celebrates Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace
From Wednesday 8 February Ð Sunday 12 March 2006 the 3rd Annual Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace will bring together artists, scholars, grassroots spiritual activists and an outstanding line-up of internationally distinguished Middle Eastern musicians.
More generally, all of the principal faith and spiritual traditions of Scotland have been invited to participate in this spiritual, educational, artistic and cultural and international celebration of peace and understanding. Indeed, the non-political nature of the Festival allows for an exceptional diversity among the participants. In total there will be over 120 events in the 2006 Festival. The Festival is jointly organized by the Edinburgh International Centre for World Spiritualities, EICWS, and the Edinburgh Institute for Advanced Learning, EIAL, and with the support of many other organizations.
Professor Tariq Ramadan and Greek Orthodox Bishop Kallistos Ware will lead the field of speakers. Professor Tariq Ramadan will give the 2006 Middle East Festival Lecture on ÔIslam and the West in a Quest for a Just and Peaceful World,Õ and Bishop Kallistos Ware will participate in the conference, Pathways of the Heart, and give the 2006 Middle East Festival Conference Lecture, ÔAcquiring Inner Peace.Õ
Among the Festival musical highlights include: Internationally distinguished musicians and artists participating will include Yair Dalal, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Davod Azad, Latif Bolat, Beth Bahia Cohen and Yasmin Levy. Yair Dalal, Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Yasmin Levy are each BBC World Music shortlisted musicians.
Yair Dalal, composer, violinist and oud player is probably the most prolific Israeli ethnic musician today. Omar Faruk Tekbilek is honoured as a peacemaker and virtuoso who brilliantly interprets the Sufi, Folk, and Contemporary music of the Middle East. Davod Azad is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and vocalist mastering in the Iranian Classical music, the Azeri folk music, the Ancient Persian music, and the Persian Sufi music. One of the most distinguished Turkish musicians in the United States, Latif Bolat plays the folk and spiritual music of Turkey on a traditional instrument called a baglama (saz). Beth Bahia Cohen is a master of the violin and various bowed instruments from the Middle East and the Balkans. In her deep, spiritual and moving style of singing, Yasmin Levy preserves and revives the most beautiful and romantic songs from the Ladino/Judeo-Spanish heritage, mixing it with Andalusian Flamenco.
Waterboys lead singer Mike Scott will play a solo set in the One World Peace Concert at the QueenÕs Hall on 18 February 2006, as will Heather Heywood and Bharati Bundhoo, and Neyzen Ilhan Barutcu will perform Classical Turkish Sufi Songs of Love and Devotion.
Another highlight of the Festival is the four-day series of events, Pathways to Peace, comprising Pathways to Peace Through Spiritual Dance (1 March), Pathways to Peace to Spiritual and Musical Practice (2 March), and a two-day conference, Pathways of the Heart (3-4 March).
Festival Co-Directors Neill Walker and Dr Neil Douglas-Klotz said:
ÔThe Festival positively affirms the diversity contained within the religious
and spiritual traditions of the Middle East, as well as those here in Scotland.
The Festival takes no fixed position on any political, ethical or cultural
question. We intend rather to create a forum in which we can listen to
one another more deeply and learn with more open minds and hearts. The
emphasis of the Festival is on spirituality, and on spiritual, educational
and artistic and cultural approaches to peace and understanding. The Festival
is a celebration of spirituality and peace, of the Middle East, and not
least of Scotland.Õ
Contact: Neill Walker, +44 (0)131 331 4469, njwalk4300@hotmail.co.uk
Dr Neil Douglas-Klotz, +44 (0)7005 802 580, ndk@eial.org
ENDS
Notes for Editors
The 3rd Edinburgh International Festival of Middle
Eastern Spirituality and Peace, Edinburgh, Scotland,
Wednesday 8 February Ð Sunday 12 March 2006.
Festival Directors and Contacts
Festival and Conference Directors:
Neill Walker and Dr Neil Douglas-Klotz.
Edinburgh International Centre for World Spiritualities,
EICWS, Scottish Charity, SC030155,
4 William Black Place, South Queensferry,
Edinburgh, EH30 9PZ. Scotland. UK.
T: +44 (0)131 331 4469, E: njwalk4300@hotmail.co.uk
Edinburgh Institute for Advanced Learning, EIAL,
42/4 Sciennes, Edinburgh, EH9 1NL. Scotland. UK.
Office: +44 (0)7005 802 580, Fax: +44 (0) 7005 802 581
Mobile: +44 (0) 7766 704 879
E: ndk@eial.org, W: www.eial.org