Sacred Sites
Sacred Sites brought together five of the foremost international performers of sacred song and recital for a week of extraordinary events in Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish and Sikh sites of worship across the city.
Performances by Candi Staton (gospel), Mor Karbasi (Sephardic Jewish Music), Dya Singh (Shabads of Sikhism), Anuradha Paudwal (bhajans of Hinduism) and Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali (koran recital and Sufi poetry) each celebrated the sound and transformational effect of the voice when raised in worship.
Developed by MIF Creative in close collaboration with faith communities across Manchester, Sacred Sites invites those of any faith or none to experience the sublime power of the human voice in a series of special performances. Sacred Sites was accompanied by a series on BBC Radio 3, Mon 11 – Fri 15 July at 23:00, presented by Lopa kothari. Featuring interviews with the singers and musicians, and conversations with audiences and congregations, the series uncovered more about the power of the human voice in each of these religious communities.
Download audience and venue information
Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali / Manchester Central Mosque
Sat 9 July & Sun 10 July 16:00
Manchester Central Mosque
Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali is a pupil of the internationally famous Qari Abd al-Basit 'Abd as-Samad , of Egypt, and has represented Pakistan in various world Qirat recitals throughout Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Persia, Egypt, Jordan and Yemen as well as in the UK and the USA. As an official Qari for Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan, Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali has recorded the full Qur’an in his voice on various different occasions for radio, television and CD.
The Manchester Central Mosque & Islamic Cultural Centre is also known as Victoria Park Mosque and is sometimes referred to as Jamia Mosque. It plays a key role in Manchester’s Muslim community. The mosque began as two adjacent houses, but in 1971 these were demolished to allow a purpose built mosque to be constructed, which has subsequently been expanded and modified. The mosque acts according to the teachings of the Barelwi sect of the Indian Subcontinent. www.manchestermosque.org
Etiquette /customs
In respect of the venue and its function please observe the following:
To enter the main prayer rooms (both male and female) you will need to remove your shoes.Women and young children will be asked to use the female prayer room. Please note that the recitals will take place live in the male prayer room, and will be relayed via audio and visual systems to the female prayer room. Women will need to cover their hair whilst inside the mosque; you may wish to bring a headscarf with you.Please wear appropriate clothing i.e. cover up arms and knees by wearing sleeved tops or shirts and a long skirt or trousers.As is customary, most seating (in both prayer rooms) will be cross-legged on the floor. Chairs will be provided for those who require them for physical/health reasons.Please do not bring food or drink into the venue.
Additional event
Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali will be accompanied for readings of Sufi poetry by Qari Javed Akhtar, a popular local reciter. Mr Arshad Misbahi, Head Imam at the Manchester Central Mosque, will translate and share meaning and context to the Koran recital.
Dya Singh / Gurdwara Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji
Thu 7, Fri 8, Sat 9 July 19:30
Gurdwara Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji
Dya Singh is considered a master interpreter of Sikh hymns, with a contemporary twist but an ear on the traditions. Since the inception of his world music group in 1992 in Australia, he has over 20 albums to his name, including the main daily Sikh prayers. Uplifting and without a dull moment, his music touches the spirit not only for one seeped in the traditions and philosophy of Sikhism but also for one who just listens to music for the pure joy of listening. This is song and music which you will not only hear, but feel.
The Gurdwara Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji, on Sherborne Street, is run by the sevadaars of the Gurdwara. The motto is Seva, Simran and Gurmat, which in very simple terms means selfless service, remembrance (of God) and living your life according to the Sikh faith. At the Gurdwara one of the main aims is to listen, learn and perform Gurbani Kirtan – the deeply spiritual rendition of gurbani shabad (hymns from the holy Sikh scriptures and guru – the Guru Granth Sahib). Sikhs look upon kirtan as the highest form of meditation – experiencing of the word of God.
www.gsghks.org.uk
Etiquette / customs
To enter the main prayer room you will need to remove your shoes and cover your hair (both male and female); you may wish to bring a headscarf with you.Please do not consume alcohol before or during the event.As is customary, most seating will be cross-legged on the floor. Chairs will be provided for those who require them for physical/health reasons. Please do not bring food or drink into the venue.
Additional event
The Langar (meaning free kitchen) will be available aftereach performance and everyone will be welcome to stay to share delicious, vegetarian food prepared and served by members of the Gurdwara community. The Langar is a tradition started by the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, where all people sit on the floor together,as equals, to eat and enjoy the same simple food.
Mor Karbasi / Manchester Reform Synagogue
Wed 6 & Thu 7 July 19:30
Sat 9 July 20:30
Manchester Reform Synagogue
Mor Karbasi is a London based singer born in Jerusalem to a mother of Moroccan decent and a father of Persian ancestry. Her music is influenced by several cultures – from songs inspired by the Jewish culture of fifteenth-century Spain to new Ladino-influenced compositions. Mor burst onto the global music scene in 2008 with the release of her first album The Beauty and The Sea and her predominantly Sephardi Jewish repertoire is sung in Ladino, Spanish, Hebrew and on rarer occasions, English. Mor’s music is heavily inspired by and influenced by her deep connection with the Jewish faith, and her love for Spain and Morocco. Mor Karbasi is accompanied at these performances by: Joe Taylor (Spanish and electric guitar, vocal), Andres Ticino (percussion), Calum Gourlay (electric bass, double bass).
Manchester Reform Synagogue is one of the oldest of its type in the UK, being founded in 1857, though the present building was consecrated and opened in 1953. The synagogue is a member of the Movement for Reform Judaism, with a focus on Living Judaism. There is a passionate and vibrant Executive and Council, which prioritises Cheder, Family and Seniors Events, fully experiencing and celebrating Shabbat, Jewish Festivals and Personal life events. www.jacksonsrow.org
Etiquette / customs
In respect of the venue and its function, please wear appropriate clothing i.e. sleeved tops or shirts and a long skirt or trousers. Men will be expected to wear a cap or hat in the sanctuary. Scull caps (Kippah) will be provided at the door but
visitors are welcome to wear their own cap/hat.Please do not bring food or drink into the venue.
Additional event
Saturday’s performance will be followed by Havdalah, a traditional ceremony with fragrant spices, wine and lighting of the Havdalah candle. The ceremony marks the end of the Shabbat (the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism) and ushers in the new week with hopes and blessings for happiness, renewed energy and new beginnings.
Anuradha Paudwal / Shree Radha Krishna Mandir
Thu 7, Fri 8, Sat 9 July 19:30
Shree Radha Krishna Mandir
Anuradha Paudwal is a playback singer in Bollywood in India whose music topped charts for months on end in the 80’s and 90’s and received much adoration from followers all over the world. Her singing won many awards including four Filmfare Awards and, most recently, the Lata Mangeshkar Award from the Madhya Pradesh Government. Anuradha has worked with all the famous Bollywood
composers and singers, performed with and helped make famous many of the household names in playback singing and performed generous acts of philanthropy. Her talent has taken her more recently into the field of devotional music in which she has made a huge success and gained wide recognition for her releases on bhakti or devotional music.
The Shree Radha Krishna Mandir was the first Hindu temple in Manchester, established in 1969 by the Indian Religious and Charitable Trust to create a place where the Indian community could meet socially and worship and celebrate their social and religious functions. Soon after this, the Hindu Religious Society was created to run the temple and the Indian Association to run the other, non-religious social activities. The Society’s membership is open to all those who believe in Hinduism, as well as to non Hindus who may be interested. www.radhakrishnamandir.co.uk
Etiquette / customs
To step inside the temple’s shrine, located inside Gandhi Hall, we will ask you to remove your shoes. As is customary, most seating will be cross-legged on the floor. Chairs will be provided for those who require them for physical/health reasons. Please do not consume alcohol before or during the event.
Additional event
Traditional Indian foods will be offered to attendees before the performance begins, from 7pm. Food is an essential part of the Hindu temple and religious experience; visitors are regularly offered food as Prasad, which means blessed edible gift.
Candi Staton / Brooks’ Bar New Testament Church of God
Thu 7, Fri 8, Sat 9 July 19:30
New Testament Church of God
Candi Staton is America’s first lady of Southern Soul. Her career has encompassed gospel, RnB, disco and blues, producing over 30 albums and three Grammy nominations. As a teenager in the Jewel Gospel Trio she toured the traditional gospel circuit, before amassing a string of pop hits in the 1970’s, including the disco classic Young Hearts Run Free. She returned to gospel music in the early 1980s, devoting herself entirely to gospel audiences until a remixed, re-released version of You Got The Love became a hit in 1991. She now performs and records both secular and gospel music all over the world.
The Brooks’ Bar New Testament Church of God (NTCG) has recently celebrated 50 years of Christian witness in the city of Manchester. As a Pentecostal church community, the church endeavours to share the Christian Gospel with the intention of providing an opportunity for all to hear the message of Christ’s gift of salvation, to find personal faith in Him and to also share in the life of His body. The church operates an ‘open door’ policy which allows members from the wider community to congregate with the church and benefit from the particular Christian message that is shared among its congregation.
www.ntcgbrooksbar.org.uk
Etiquette / customs
In respect of the venue and its function, please wear appropriate clothing i.e. sleeved tops or shirts and a long skirt or trousers. Please do not bring food or drink into the venue.
Additional event
Candi’s performance will be accompanied by a performance by the church’s Praise Choir, a group of talented young singers who rehearse at the church weekly.
