G. I. Gurdjieff / T. A. de Hartmann
Sayyid Chant et danse
The piece "Sayyide – Chant et Dance" was the result of a collaboration between the South Caucasian Georges Ivanovich Gurdjieff (1866/1877 – 1949) and the Ukrainian-born composer Thomas de Hartmann (1885 – 1956).
Gurdjieff was a mystical teacher, writer, and spiritual seeker. He traveled to Central Asia, Tibet, India, Afghanistan, and Egypt to gather ancient esoteric knowledge. In these regions, he heard traditional folk music and religious chants and witnessed mystical dances in temples and monasteries.
Gurdjieff taught a spiritual practice for everyday life that simultaneously trains the body, emotions, and mind. At that time, he had a large following in Russia, Europe, and the USA. In 1916, he met Thomas de Hartmann in St. Petersburg, to whom Gurdjieff sang and whistled the many melodies. Hartmann captured the contemplative, meditative, and archaic music in traditional Western piano notation, thus preserving it for posterity.
A Sayyid is a person who traces their lineage directly back to the Prophet Muhammad. They enjoy special respect in many Muslim societies.
