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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Apolytikion of Holy Saturday “The noble Joseph,” second tone
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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 Khourieh Rita Saikali
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Processional during Orthros on Holy Saturday “When he saw that the sun,” plagal of first tone
- Recording by Metropolitan Elias Qurban
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Great Prokeimenon during Vespers on Holy Saturday “Arise, O God,” grave tone