Silent Concert The Logic of Flying – Simorgh is a journey into the mythology of 12th century Iran. Texts will be read from the German translation of Fariduddin Attar’s The Conference of the Birds (translator Katja Föllmer, Marix Verlag) and Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh. The original Persian is processed in fusion music—thus blending tradition and modernity.

The Persian epic Mantiq-at-Tair (The Conference of the Birds) by the 12th-century Sufi poet and mystic Farid ud-Din Attar is a lyrical, spiritual, and theosophical narrative: Under the leadership of the hoopoe, the community of birds agrees to seek out their legendary ruler, the mysterious bird Simurgh, in the Qaf Mountains in order to save their land from destruction. The arduous journey takes them through seven valleys: the valley of seeking, love, knowledge, independence, unity, wonder, and death, which represent the seven stages of the Sufi path. Most of them fail along the way, but those who remain not only reach the summit of the Qaf Mountains, but also attain the highest degree of perfection.

The format of Silent Concert offers listeners a unique audio experience. By means of headphones, they are transported directly into the heart of ancient and modern Persian culture.

Participating artists:
Soroosh Ghahramanloo (Iran): concept, vocals, composition with the help of the self-developed "Modal Classification and Synthesis of Persian Music", setar, electric setar, microtonal guitar, and looper
Adriane Grządziel (Austria/Poland): concept, narration, and background vocals
Thomas Noël (Belgium): synthesizer and background vocals
Johannes Kretz (Austria): soundscape and electronic music
 
Contributors: 
Artwork: Timo Huber, In Erwartung [the expectation], 2025
Graphics and photography: Reza Maleki
Calligraphy: Arash Ghahramanloo

Kindly supported by:
Kia Emamjomeh
INNES.German Language School
Mahdieh Bayat 

Produced by Kiss the Globe in cooperation with the MAK