Shokraneh – Seyed Khalil Alinejad & Hamidreza Khojandi

Makhmuri, Sabuhi and Sama-e Vasl, the first part of this work, tell the story of an aged, sorrowing seeker who rises at dawn, still heavy with last night’s wine, weary and pained by separation. The grief of loneliness and distance comes alive in his thoughts and moves this enamoured libertine to weep and lament. He seeks his cure in the morning wine and, to escape the thought of separation, drains the dawn cup (sabuhi). Then, intoxicated, he begins a slow, solemn sama (whirling dance).

At last he finds release from existence in union with the symbol of the Friend and goes to the rose garden. Like Venus in the dance – joyful, drunk and heart-lost – he throws body and soul into the garden. And when the sun, from its distant peak, sweeps away the darkness of night, he finds himself at the summit of the sky and strikes up a qalandar song in gratitude (shokraneh).

Shokraneh (“Gratitude”) is a duet of Seyed Khalil Alinejad on the tanbur and Hamidreza Khojandi on the daf (frame drum), in five pieces: Old Isfahan, Old Chahargah, Old Mahur, Old Shur and Return to Isfahan. Label: Avaye Novin Isfahan, 1998