Sufi music in Syria and Morocco by Daniel Daniel

My Bachelor's project investigates the spellbinding Sufi music practices by questioning and comparing its origins and traditions in two culturally significant locations: Syria and Morocco. It is interesting in the various but spiritually connected manner of two prominent Sufi orders—the Qadiri Boutchichi Tarika in Morocco and the Naqshbandi Tarika in Syria. These orders not only serve as spiritual guides but also play a central role in preserving and disseminating the unique art of Sufi music. This artistic research consisted of different steps. I interviewed two Sufi musicians, the first one from Morocco and the second one from Damascus. The questions were focused on the differences and the similarities between the two cultures, instruments, melodies, and rhythm. I studied Sufi music from Arabic sources as well, so I had to translate many important historical facts, taking into account the ethics of the research. I relied on my musical background in this research as part of the Syrian Sufi music and on my tours during Sufi music festivals, where I met Sufi musicians from different countries. Being a seasoned Sufi music practitioner myself, I tried to add a personal touch to this work based on my experience. I found many cultural differences between the two Sufi music styles, but I found many similarities at the same time. Two countries in different places far from each other have wide cultural diversities, but the same rhythm is the key to making the conversation with the divine. Dhikr is a mutual element as well, even though it has some special details related to the geographical region. Keywords: Sufism, Sufi music, Morocco, Damascus, Universal, History

Data Generation and Data analysis

I have employed different methods of data generation in this research, owing to the difficulty of obtaining written data that encompasses all aspects of the study. I relied on my experience in Sufi music and my own compositional and preparatory process for this research. I documented numerous details in the course of working on musical compositions and the selection of Sufi poems, as well as reading the stories and biographies of the major figures in the field of Sufism.

These rehearsal sessions were quite enriching, providing much material to talk about aspects that you will not read in any book. I also conducted an interview, which proved quite helpful for comparing the gathered information with my personal experience of Sufi musicians as well as with the discourses prevailing about Sufi music and its various aspects in their countries.

Data Analysis

I analyzed the interview by transcribing the recording verbatim and reviewing the transcript multiple times. This iterative process enabled me to develop a clearer understanding of the pivotal keywords and thematic areas that warranted further focus

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Daniel Daniel - Sufi music in Syria and Morocco - 2025