The School of Ecclesiastic Music

Christmas Hymns (A Cappella)

A collection of Christmas Hymns recorded at St. Georges church - Broumana

Recording took place on Wednesday, 20th December, 2000 at Saint Georges Church in Broumana, Lebanon

Our success story

This recording was executed live at Saint George Orthodox Church (Brumana- Lebanon) on one take for each chant. It was sponsored by MJO (the Movement of the Orthodox Youth in Antioch) and it was distributed on the houses of the South of Lebanon (that was still under the Israelite occupation at that time).

The aim of this recording was basically to help MJO in their parish work in the South of Lebanon, and to enhance our expertise in recording byzantine Music.

We had only 7 days to prepare and do the recording. On the recording day, a tough storm came to Lebanon. You can hear the thunder’s voice in the recording of the Ainos’s Doxa (“Lamma Hana Awanou”) for example. We felt that it was like the day when Jesus was born… in the cold… When we finished the recording and went outside the church late at night, the snow was covering all the place and the roads.

This was the first Arab Byzantine recording with prolonged Stachiraric hymns (“Ainite”, Ainos Chants, Doxa,…). The use of these styles was almost inexistent in Antioch at that time.

The recording of this CD was done by Mr Kamal Saikali as well. It shows a development in our conception and view and expertise in recording Byzantine Music.

On the other hand, the cover of this CD was the first professional cover of an Arab Byzantine recording. We owe that to Mr. Marwan Sarraf.

Read the full story...

1.	Christmas sermon - by Saint John Chrysostom	(04:16)
2.	Verse (Kondakion) of the pre-Christmas servicec - in the third tone - musical text composed by Joseph Yazbeck	(05:46)
3.	The first hour Glory hymns - (Doxastikon) of the Great Hours Service in the fourth plagal tone. Musical text composed by the first chanter Dimitrios El Murr	(06:16)
4.	Hymn (Idiomelon) - composed by Anatolios from the Apostikhon of the Vespers Service in the third tone. Musical tetxt composed by first changer Dimitrios El Murr	(07:17)
5.	The first verse (Kathysma) of the Matins Service - in the second plagal tone (Nenano). Musical text composed by Joseph Yazbeck	(00:56)
6.	Verse (Exapostilarion) - in the third tone. Musical text composed by Joseph Yazbeck	(01:33)
7.	Hymn (Idiomelon) from the ninth hour of the Great Hours Service - Improvisation: Dr. Nicolas Rahbani	(04:41)
8.	Hymn interpreted after the Matins bible reading - in the second plagal tone. Musical text composed by the first chanter Andreas Mouaikel	(02:58)
9.	Ninth Ode of the Matins Service - in the first tone. Musical text composed by the first chanter Dimitrios El Murr. Last verse prolonged tone music text composed by Joseph Yazbeck	(07:24)
10.	Verse (Troparion) from the Verspers Service - in the second plagal tone. Musical text composed by Joseph Yazbeck	(03:00)
11.	Verses from psalms (Poleleos) - in the first, third and first plagal tones. Musical text composed by Joseph Yazbeck and inspired from the Athonite tradition.	(01:15)
12.	Verses from psalm no. 148 (Ainos) - in the fourth tone agia (Pa) and fourth tone leyetos. Set into music by Jacob the first chaner (1740-1801). Adapted to Arabic by Chadi Karam and Joseph Yazbeck. The end piece is composed by Andreas of Jerusalem, set into music by Joseph Yazbeck in the prolonged fourth tone leyetos based on the interpretation of the first chanter Lycourgos Angelopoulos.	(01:58)
13.	Glory Hymn (Doxastikon) of the Matins Service - in the prolonged second plagal tone. Musical text composed by Joseph Yazbeck	(03:11)
14.	The Great Doxology - in the second plagal tone nenano. Set into music by the Monks of Simonos Petras Monastery in the Holy Mount (Athos). Adapted to arabic by Joseph Yazbeck.	(02:27)
15.	The Christmas Hymn (Troparion) - in the fourth chromatic tone. Musical text composed by Joseph Yazebeck	(01:46)

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