Arabic Byzantine chant

In an effort to broaden exposure to the Arabic school of Byzantine chant, I am collecting scores and audio recordings of well-known Orthodox liturgical hymns in Arabic on this Web page. The following scores (with one exception) were composed by Mitri el-Murr (1880–1969) and published in Al-Usbou’ Al-’Atheem (“Holy Week”). The exception is the doxastikon at the Praises during Orthros on Holy Saturday “Moses the Great,” which was composed by Andraos Muaiqel; it has been reproduced here as it is printed in the paperback compilation of Holy Saturday Orthros music by Fr Nicholas Malek and Dn Jibraeel El-Lati.

When available, I have included audio recordings of these pieces made by contemporary Arabic choirs. I highly recommend listening to the recordings by Metropolitan Elias Qurban and Dimitri Koutia, whose chronos is outstanding. The Middle East also has a strong tradition of choral singing. I recommend viewing the videos of the Choir of the Eparchy of Tripoli, whose execution is excellent.

• The Great Polyeleos, Psalm 134, “Praise ye the name of the Lord, O ye servants”

  • Abbreviated recording by Choir of St. John of Damascus of Balamand

• Alleluia and Apolytikion of the Bridegroom services “Behold, the bridegroom,” plagal of fourth tone

  • Recording by Choir of St. John of Damascus of Balamand
  • Recording by St. Romanos Choir of Beirut, Lebanon
  • Recording by the combined choirs of Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the Eparchy of Tripoli
  • Recording by Dimitri Koutia
  • Recording by Khourieh Rita Saikali

• First kathisma during Orthros on Holy Monday “The present day presents the august, holy Passion,” first tone, “The soldiers standing guard”

  • Recording by Choir of St. John of Damascus of Balamand
  • Recording by Dimitri Koutia
  • Recording by Khourieh Rita Saikali

• First idiomelon during Orthros on Holy Monday “When the Lord was going to his voluntary Passion,” first tone

  • Recording by Choir of St. John of Damascus of Balamand
  • Recording by St. Romanos Choir of Beirut, Lebanon
  • Recording by the combined choirs of Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the Eparchy of Tripoli
  • Recording by Khourieh Rita Saikali

• Exaposteilarion of the Bridegroom services “Thy bridal chamber,” third tone

  • Recording by St. Romanos Choir of Beirut, Lebanon
  • Recording by the combined choirs of Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the Eparchy of Tripoli
  • Recording by Mitri el-Murr

• The Hymn of Cassiane the Nun, doxastikon at the Aposticha during Orthros on Holy Wednesday, plagal of fourth tone: Arabic version, Greek version

  • Recording by Choir of St. John of Damascus of Balamand
  • Recording by St. Romanos Choir of Beirut, Lebanon
  • Recording by the combined choirs of Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the Eparchy of Tripoli

• Apolytikion of Holy Friday “When the glorious disciples,” plagal of fourth tone

  • Recording by St. Romanos Choir of Beirut, Lebanon
  • Recording by the combined choirs of Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the Eparchy of Tripoli

• Doxastikon at the Aposticha during Vespers on Holy Friday “When Joseph with Nicodemus took thee down,” plagal of first tone

  • Recording by St. Romanos Choir of Beirut, Lebanon

• Apolytikion of Holy Saturday “The noble Joseph,” second tone

• Doxastikon at the Praises during Orthros on Holy Saturday “Moses the Great,” plagal of second tone

  • Recording by Choir of St. John of Damascus of Balamand
  • Recording by St. Romanos Choir of Beirut, Lebanon
  • Recording by the combined choirs of Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the Eparchy of Tripoli
  • Recording by Rassem el-Massih
  • Recording by Khourieh Rita Saikali

• Processional during Orthros on Holy Saturday “When he saw that the sun,” plagal of first tone

  • Recording by Metropolitan Elias Qurban
  • Recording by Rassem el-Massih
  • Recording by anonymous chanter

• Great Prokeimenon during Vespers on Holy Saturday “Arise, O God,” grave tone

See also

• Arab school of chanting at Analogion
• Audio recordings by Fr. Nicholas Malek at Orthodoxia Radio

Purchasing

To order Byzantine music books by Mitri el-Murr and others in Arabic from the United States, contact Mr. Georges Karam of Alexia Publications.