|
Traditional music therapy in Iran (Persia)
Gwat: Gwat literally means wind. Gwati is a kind of mental illness. A Gwati person is not mentally balanced. The melody
is for dancing and their actions and figures are monotonous. After doing these monotonous actions and figures the dancers
go to the world of ecstasy. The name of the conductor of gwat ceremonies is gwati-mat. The text of this melody is the praise
of Lal Shahbaz Ghalandar and Sheikh Abd-al-Ghader Gilani. The ceremonies are continued during three to seven days. Every day
the ceremonies are done from one to four hours. It is believed that after the seven days if the illness is not removed then
she/he will die. This illness is for women more than men. Gwat melody can be considered a kind of traditional music therapy.
Damal: This illness is something like gwat but for men more than women. The conductor of the damal ceremonies is called
khalifeh.
In both damal and gwat ceremonies all musical instruments especially sorud, tamburak and doholak can be used.
Maled: These are the ceremonies very similar to the ceremonies to be done in khanghah of ghaderi dervishes. The unusual
actions are a part of the both ceremonies. Mastan is the name of those people that do the unusual actions. The melodies to
be used in the ceremonies are used sometimes for music therapy also. The only musical instrument that is used in the ceremonies
is sama (a kind of frame drum similar to daf).
Translated by Peyman Nasehpour
Drum Therapy
|
