On any given day, the rustling of papers and the typing of computers can be heard from the auditorium in 245 Beacon. But on the quiet autumn evening of November 2, the rich melodies of Persian classical music floated out into the hallway as people gathered for the third Persian Mystical Night: Rumi’s Autumn of Love, sponsored by Boston College’s Islamic Civilization and Societies (ICS) Program.
The event featured themes of Persian mysticism and Sufism, characterized by explorations of divine love through music, dance, and poetry. “Our mission is to offer an authentic experience by drawing directly from original Farsi texts and the classic repertoires of Persian music and Sufi dance,” read the program.
The event also highlighted the poetry of Mowlana Jalaleddin Rumi (1207-1273), a Persian poet, Islamic scholar, and Sufi mystic. He is one of the most widely read poets in the world today, and according to the program, “his poetry reflects a deep spiritual longing for unity with the divine, often expressed through themes of love, separation, and devotion.”
The four Rumi poems presented, And Yet Again, He Found Me, Once Again Love Poured Down, The Lover’s Heart, and Sabuh, were translated into English for the first time, providing attendees with a truly unique and exceptional experience.
In addition to spearheading the event, Ali Kadivar, Assistant Professor of Sociology and International Studies at BC, also participated in the vocal performances. Born and raised in Iran, Kadivar developed a passion for music and mastered the string instruments tar and setar during his time in college.
“The themes found in Persian classical art are timeless and universal… Having lived in the U.S. for a long time, I’ve noticed that many people are not familiar with Iranian music and literature. This series has always been an attempt to make Persian music and poetry accessible to an audience without any prior background,” said Kadivar.
Over the past few years, Persian Mystical Nights has expanded significantly. The first event was a one-man show featuring Kadivar reciting, translating, playing the tar, and singing in a small classroom with around twenty attendees. This year, the professor was joined by local Iranian musicians Baba Taba and Alireza Khodayari, and dancer Majid Bastani. Except for the final piece in the show, the compositions and performances the audience witnessed were original interpretations of Rumi’s classical poems.
Kadivar does not incorporate lyrics into his music, choosing instead to focus on how to create melodies and rhythms that convey the content and structure of the poems themselves. “This approach allows me to maintain the integrity of the poetry while bringing out its emotional and spiritual dimensions through music,” he said.
He explained that Iranian classical music is based on a repertoire known as “Radif,” which consists of about fourteen interrelated melodic units with specific rules for progression and regression.
“Each mode and its subdivisions carry different emotional nuances and have been associated with various [effects], such as sorrow, openness, joy, epic storytelling, contention, and more,” he said.
The pieces were distinctive in how they began with the stringing of instruments or the sound of a voice, and gradually evolved to incorporate all three aspects of voice, music, and dance. In particular, Bastani’s movements of Sufi trance dance, known as “sama,” were nothing short of transformative and transcendental, “inviting audiences into deeper states of awareness and connection,” as the program read.
As part of the setup for the show, the typical projector boards in the auditorium were lifted up and a curtain hung up to create a more intimate effect. When the lights dimmed and the music began, listeners were transformed into a new world of Sufi mysticism and movement, even seeing Bastani’s shadow create new shapes behind the musicians.
Liv Absey-Allen (MCAS ‘27) assisted Kadivar in helping promote and execute the event, playing several roles from designing the programs to finding the rugs used on stage.
“I really enjoyed being a part of this event. I did not know much at all about Iranian classical music, so I learned a lot during the process. It was also a great reminder of all of the non-academic talent and interests that many of the professors here have,” she said.
In the future, Kadivar envisions hosting several Persian Mystical Nights during the school year, each featuring new and original compositions.
“I have compositions ready for a winter-themed event, which I hope to bring to the stage next semester. I would love to include more musicians for a richer variety of instrumentation and incorporate additional dancers and choreography to enhance the overall experience,” he said.
During the show, it was easy to lose track of time and oneself, as the enchanting music invited the audience to look inward and self-reflect. The blending together of several art forms and sensory experiences made the third Persian Mystical Night entirely special and nothing short of mesmerizing.
Aspiring haunted house owner, ex-barista, and NYT mini crossword player.
