Contemporary Sufi Music
Concert by Falsa
Friday, December 6, 2024 / 8:00 pm
Admission: $40
Sufi Music for Voice | Meditation | Transcendence | Conversation.
Transcendence in Bloom: A Reflection on Nature and Transformation: In 2005, following a personal tragedy, I visited Mevlana Rumi’s shrine seeking spiritual insight but felt stuck despite all my efforts to read, write, and pray. Later, as I sat, demoralized, waiting for the bus back to Istanbul, I noticed a small plant thriving amidst gravel, concrete, fumes, and noise—a stark contrast to the shrine’s serenity. In that moment, everything came into focus, as if the plant embodied Mevlana himself. Now, years later, I recall this with deep affection, appreciating more fully that the journey of the wise is not about finding solutions or exerting thought, but about learning to stay present, surrendering control, and fully feeling each feeling as a gift from the Divine—whether pleasant or painful—without seeking answers, distractions, or indulging in judgement or repression, or hardening in any way. The plant’s lesson of stillness, of remaining soft and rooted amid chaos, may guide us to align with nature’s rhythms, especially now, as the climate crisis exposes the futility of control, fix-seeking, and overexertion not only at the individual but at the global level.
– Umer
Falsa
Based in New York City, ‘Falsa’ is a vibrant ensemble of diverse improvisational musicians. Anchored in the mystic traditions of 14th-century Sufi music—akin to the elevating poetry of Rumi—the group serves up an eclectic blend of minimalist meditation, raga jazz fusion, high-energy world improvisation, and immersive ritual-communitas performances featuring dancers and captivating visuals. But at its heart, Falsa is dedicated to normalizing the transcendent experience through music.
The band’s name, ‘Falsa,’ draws from a deeply personal and mystical narrative. Named after a tropical berry native to India and Pakistan, ‘Falsa’ represents the Sufi concept of longing for union—a theme that lead vocalist Umer has intimately experienced. After a decade-long separation from Pakistan due to intricate immigration bureaucracies, Umer’s eventual return was marked by a poignant realization. Tasting the ‘falsa’ fruit again broke through the emotional barriers he had built and brought him face-to-face with the truth: “Home is something you cannot take with you, you have to return to it.”
By weaving this narrative into their music, Falsa illuminates the magical aspects of experience that aren’t acquisitions but gifts. In the world of Falsa, Sufi music isn’t a means to an end, but a journey towards meaning and transcendence.
Stay connected with Falsa’s journey by following @falsamusic on Instagram.