This piece was inspired by witnessing the whirling dervish ceremony with its moments of quiet prayer and whirling in Istanbul.

Commissioned by Penelope Cave. First performance in January 2007 at the Stratford on Avon Festival.

"Sema Mevlana was actually written for Penelope Cave. Inspired by whirling dervishes (although Head stresses that 'within the whirling there is a feeling of inner stability') its minimalist wit is answered by moments of near-harplike repose." Alice McVeigh, Music and Vision