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. The following scores (with one exception) were composed by Mitri el-Murr (1880–1969) and published by his son Fouad el-Murr in Al-Usbou’ Al-’Atheem (“Holy Week”). The exception is the dhoxastikon at the Praises during Orthros on Holy Saturday “Moses the Great,” which was composed by Indraos Mua’iqel; 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. If you have additional scores or audio recordings, please contact me and I will add them to the list below.
Holy Week
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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, dhoxastikon at the Aposticha during Orthros on Holy Wednesday, 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
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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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Dhoxastikon 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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Dhoxastikon 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
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Great Prokeimenon during Vespers on Holy Saturday “Arise, O God,” grave tone