Editorial Board
MusicWeb International
Founding Editor Rob Barnett Editor in Chief
John Quinn Contributing Editor Ralph Moore Webmaster
David Barker Postmaster
Jonathan Woolf MusicWeb Founder Len Mullenger
Christmas In The Holy Land – Ancient Christian
Liturgies
see end of review for track details
Recorded at churches in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Nazareth, and
Jaffa by Amnon Shiloah, 1967. ADD ARCHIV
PRODUKTION 477 6653 [50:35]
Don’t
be fooled by the title. This is not Christmas music to have
on the stereo while sipping mulled wine and munching fruitcake.
It will certainly not put you in the mood to go a-wassailing.
The subtitle is more indicative of what the listener will
find: “Ancient Christian Liturgies”. While it will never
be a popular stocking-stuffer, this CD will be welcomed by
those interested in liturgical music. It should also appeal
if you are a student of church history in the Holy Land and
the languages and traditions of Christian Rome, Byzantium,
the Middle East and North Africa. One could almost expect
to find it in the “World Music” section.
This
is both a historic and historical recording. In September
of 1967, only 3 months after the Six-Day War, Israeli musicologist
Amnon Shiloah, now Professor of Musicology at the Hebrew
University in Jerusalem and considered the world's leading
authority on the Arab and Jewish musical traditions, was,
according to the liner-notes, “looking for the oldest Christian
traditions in his country”. After convincing the clergy and
choirs to perform Christmas services in September - no mean
feat, to be sure! - he set about creating a “snapshot” of
the Nativity at various ancient Christian churches in the
Holy Land. He did this simply by taking with him a portable
tape recorder and recording the liturgical proceedings. These
are therefore not pristine studio recordings, but low-tech
warts-and-all recordings of what the listeners would actually
have heard if they had been present.
As
listed above, almost all the major liturgical Christian churches
in the Holy Land are represented. The only one missing is
the Russian Orthodox Church. Although Russian Orthodox pilgrims
had been taking the pilgrimage since the 11th century,
it wasn’t until 1858 that they established a mission in Jerusalem.
For this reason they were not included in Mr. Shiloah’s selection.
We
begin and end with the bells of the Church of the Nativity
in Bethlehem —appropriately, because it is administered by
Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Armenian authorities.
A fascinating tour of pre-polyphonic ecclesiastical music
follows, beginning with Gregorian chant, winding through
lean and primitive sounds and rhythms, at times almost tribal.
We hear the sounds of Ancient Greek, Ghez - or Ge’ez, an
early Semitic tongue and the official liturgical language
of the Ethiopian Church since the 5th century
- Ancient Armenian, Ancient Syrian, Aramaic, and Arabic.
The only instrumental accompaniments come on track 8, the
Abyssinian hymn “Today He is Born” which uses a kind of kettle
drum, and on track 16 where a triangle accompanies the Coptic “Hymn
to the Holy Trinity”. Some will be surprised at hearing Christians
chanting in Arabic, especially since, to many, the sound
will be reminiscent of the muezzin calling Muslims to prayer.
In fact this form of Christian chanting predates Islam by
six hundred years.
Christmas
in the Holy Land is a fascinating
disc, but it will not appeal to everyone. If you are looking
for beautifully recorded examples of liturgical Christmas
music, you will need to look elsewhere. If, however, you
are interested in liturgical traditions and their authentic
expression, this disc is a treasure.
Miguel Muelle
Track details
Bells of the Church of the Nativity [0:47] Roman Catholic Midnight Mass Introitus [2:07]
Alleluia [2:28]
Communio [0:43]
Choir of the Sisters of Zion/Sister Marussia of the Order Greek Orthodox The Saviour has come to us (3rd mode) [1:28]
St. Matthew’s Gospel, 1:4-10 [3:19]
Wonderful Mystery (1st mode) [3:43]
Seminary Choir/Archimandrite Cesarius (solo and direction) Abyssinian Today He Is Born To Us [2:15]
Cantor Margeta Amda Michael with a choir of monks
St. Luke’s Gospel, 2:2-10 [2:21]
His Holiness Patriarch Abna Joseph
This is the day of joy [1:30]
Choir of monks Greek Catholic Megalynarion Of The Nativity (1st mode), Praise, my soul [1:55]
Choir, with Archimandrite Nathanel Schahade
Epistle to the Galatians, 4:4-8
Cantor Nikolas Armenian Today is the Feast of the Savior's Birth And Theophany [2:09]
Hymn to the Blessed Virgin [2:39]
A wondrously beautiful mystery has been revealed [2:36]
Seminary Choir of the Armenian Patriarchate, Jerusalem/Sahag Kalaydijan
rec. St. Francis of Assisi Church, Torrington, CT, USA (choir), Trinity Episcopal Coptic Hymn to the Holy Trinity [1:59]
Choir of children and monks
St. John’s Gospel, 1:1-17 [2:48]
His Holiness Patriarch Basilius Ancient Syrian Alleluia, Alleluia [2:25]
Choir of the Syrian Church
St. Luke’s Gospel, 2:3-12 [3:33]
The Priest Abuna Ya’aqub Maronite Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus [3:30]
Monsignore Jacques Ra’d and Cantor Etienne Khuri
Psalm 42, sung at the end of the Midnight Mass [3:03]
Cantor Etienne Khuri (Lebanon)
Bells of the Church of the Nativity [1:17]
Reviews
from previous months Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the
discs reviewed. details We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin
Board
Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to
which you refer.