Revealing the Secret Sounds and Movements: Presentations of Alevi-Bektashi Nefeses and Semahs from Bulgaria

Rumiana Margaritova

doi:10.4312/mz.58.1.123-144

Authors

Rumiana Margaritova Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Art Studies, Sofia, Bulgaria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/mz.58.1.123-144

Keywords:

Alevi-Bektashi ritual, nefes, semah, Bulgaria, virtual tour

Abstract

The article examines how public and audio-visual media presentations of Alevi-Bektashi ritual music and semahs in Bulgaria act as a bridge between the community and outsider audience. Special attention is paid to the advantages of using the innovative format of the virtual tour for revealing a little known and still somewhat closed ethno-religious minority that is apprehensive about outside scrutiny.

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Filmography

Dobreva, Mira. 2016. “Otblizo – Alianite.” [“Up Close – Aliani.”] [“ОТБЛИЗО – Алианите.”] Sofia: Bulgarian National Television. January 24, 2016. YouTube video, 23:26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amrA1i9WDvA.

Kostadinova, Verginia. “Ru˘ka na su˘rtseto.” [“Hand over the Heart.”] [“Ръка на сърцето.”] Bulgarian National Film Center, 1996.

Mishkova, Elena. 2018. “Alianite ot selo Bisertsi.” [“The Aliani from the Village of Bisertzi.”] [“Алианите от село Бисерци.”] Sofia: Bulgarian National Television 2. February 18, 2018. TV Video, 29:27. https://bnt.bg/bg/a/alianite-ot-sbisertsi.

Radulov, Stoyan. 2011. “Mezhdu polumesetsa i kru˘sta.” [“Between the Crescent and the Cross.”] [“Между полумесеца и кръста.”] Sofia: Television Tourism. May 18, 2022. YouTube video, 17:27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEvnQkDOtOM.

Simeonov, Tzvetan. 2020. “Siyanieto na Dvanadesette.” [“The Radiance of the Twelve.”] [“Сиянието на Дванадесетте.”] Plovdiv: Sim Stone Studio. February 28, 2020. YouTube video, 58:01. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrWmKpGMG98.