Take Me To Kurdistan

I have many Kurd friends. Colorful, vivacious, and kind, Iranian Kurds are some of the nicest people I have ever known. My Kurd friend, Leila, is generous, beautiful, and a most superb and soulful singer. I love their music and I love their dance. I have tried to learn their dance steps, but I have been an utter failure in that effort! I once listened to a lecture by Maestro Hossein Alizadeh, in which he was describing the nuances of Kurdish music. He said Kurdish music is mostly the music of agricultural work and movement, motivating and inspiring farmers to move. When their dance music reaches its crescendo, I have learned to step back and let them do it themselves, where my most humble contribution becomes serving the spectacle as a spectator. Ah, watching that energy grips me and mesmerizes me, taking me to a place as yet unseen, Kurdistan. Kurdistan is on the list of places I want to visit someday. I so hope for it to be soon.

Watch this video clip of Kurdish music, performed by my friend and neighbor, Rojan, and the Shams Ensemble, directed by Tahmoures Pournazeri. It's electric. Enjoy.