Sufi Chants from Syria

Inspired by ‘the beauty of Muslim prayer’, Washington DC-based punk drummer and photographer Jason Hamacher travelled to Aleppo before the current Syrian crisis to record lesser-known Sufi chants.

How did a punk drummer end up recording Syrian Sufi chants?
In 2008, I was hired to facilitate the exploration, assessment and documentation of Jewish sites in Syria. Because my access to Jewish sites was revoked, I decided to record as much religious music as I could find and connect with the Islamic community instead. I went to mosques, photographed prayer rituals and spoke with Imams. The beauty of Muslim prayer inspired me to find and record the lesser-known Sufi practices.

Did the monks give you any insight into the music that you hadn’t known prior?
For the record, most of the guys I recorded and lived with were not monks. Most were deacons and priests. One fact I think about often is that the Church has lost hundreds of chants over the centuries through war and displacement. I hope the youth of this generation take interest in their heritage and keep the traditions alive.

What impact did the chants have on you?
The first time I heard the Christian and Sufi chants, I felt an overwhelming sense of awe and a deep spiritual connection to Syria.

Do you think the recordings will evoke the same sentiment in those hearing them for the first time?
I’ve received overwhelming feedback from people the world over expressing heartfelt sentiments and profound loss when they heard the chants for the first time.

Do you have any other regional projects in mind for The Lost Sound Series?
I have five albums in total that are coming out, in addition to a book. The first album, ‘Nawa’, was released this summer. Then I have an album of Syriac Orthodox chanting in the Edessa tradition coming out with Smithsonian Folkways, and then albums of Armenian and Chaldean Orthodox chanting. Lastly, there will be an album of the Syriac Orthodox deacons from Saint Ephram Cathedral in Aleppo.