Joshua Bennett
The Choir of Beirut, also known as the Choir of the Orthodox Church of Beirut, was founded in 1992 by مارسيل خوري (Marcél Khourie). The choir comprises 3 boy and 2 girl choristers, aged between 9 and 13 years, and 14 male undergraduates, as well as 2 organ scholars. The choir's first album, 'Anacheed Al Kanissa Al Orthodoxia', was recorded in 1995 and officially released in 2017. In 2024, Beirut hosted an ecumenical musical event featuring a 400-person choir from various Christian communities, including Catholic, Orthodox, and evangelical churches, to pray for unity and peace.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Choir of Beirut, Choir of the Orthodox Church of Beirut |
| Founder | مارسيل خوري (Marcél Khourie) |
| Founding Year | 1992 |
| Number of Choristers | 21 (3 boy choristers, 2 girl choristers, 14 male undergraduates, 2 organ scholars) |
| Age Range of Choristers | 9-13 years |
| First Album | Anacheed Al Kanissa Al Orthodoxia |
| Year of First Album Release | 1995 |
| Year of First Album's Official Release on Major Digital Distributors | 2017 |
| Number of Songs in the First Album | 12 |
| Genre of the First Album | Old Arabic Orthodox Chants |
| Purpose | Perform chants, especially those by Antiochian composers, and conduct holy services in Arabic, Greek, and English |
| Number of Members | 40 |
| Notable Performances | Lebanon, Greece, USA |
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What You'll Learn
The Choir of Beirut is part of the Orthodox Church of Beirut
The Choir of Beirut, also known as the Choir of the Orthodox Church of Beirut, was founded in 1992 by مارسيل خوري (Marcél Khourie). The choir is composed of 3 boys and 2 girls, aged between 9 and 13 years old, and 14 male undergraduates studying a variety of subjects. There are also two organ scholars.
The choir provides music for daily offices and celebrations of the Mass at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut. Their first album, 'Anacheed Al Kanissa Al Orthodoxia', was recorded in 1995 and officially released on major digital distributors in 2017, receiving critical acclaim from the Arab Christian community. The album consists of 12 pieces of old Arabic Orthodox chants recorded at the Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut.
The choir has since released several more recordings, mainly through Quartos. Their repertoire includes well-known chants, especially those by Antiochian composers, as well as some new compositions. They perform services in Arabic, Greek, and English. The choir has performed in churches throughout Lebanon and other countries, including Greece and the USA.
While the Choir of Beirut is part of the Orthodox Church of Beirut, there are also Catholic communities in the city that have their own choirs. For example, in 2024, a choir of 400 singers from various Christian communities, including Catholic, Orthodox, and evangelical churches, gathered in Beirut for an ecumenical musical event to pray for unity and peace. This event was led by a young Lebanese Catholic, Mark Merhej, and was praised by Bishop George Baqouni, the metropolitan of Beirut, Byblos, and their Melkite Catholic dependencies, as a positive initiative towards unity.
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The choir has 22 members, including children and undergraduates
The Choir of the Orthodox Church of Beirut was founded in 1992 by مارسيل خوري (Marcél Khourie). The choir has 22 members, including children and undergraduates. There are 3 boy choristers and 2 girl choristers, aged between 9 and 13 years old. In addition, there are 14 male undergraduates who are reading for degrees in a variety of subjects, as well as 2 organ scholars. The choir provides music for daily offices and celebrations of the Mass at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut.
The choir's first album, 'Anacheed Al Kanissa Al Orthodoxia', was recorded in 1995 and officially released on major digital distributors in 2017. It featured 12 pieces of old Arabic Orthodox chants recorded at the Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut. The album was met with critical acclaim by the Arab Christian community.
The Saint Romanos Choir of Beirut, founded in 2000, is another choir based in the city. This choir consists of graduates of the Saint Romanos School of Ecclesiastical Music in the Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut. The choir has around 40 members, both male and female, and performs well-known chants, especially those by Antiochian composers. They also perform new compositions and holy services in Arabic, Greek, and English.
Beirut has also hosted large ecumenical musical events, featuring choirs of up to 400 singers from various Christian communities, including Catholic, Orthodox, and evangelical churches. These events, such as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2024, aim to promote unity and peace among different Christian denominations.
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The choir released its first album in 1995
The Choir of the Orthodox Church of Beirut, also known as the Choir of Beirut, was founded in 1992 by مارسيل خوري (Marcél Khourie). The choir is comprised of young choristers, with 3 boys and 2 girls aged between 9 and 13, as well as 14 male undergraduates studying a range of subjects, and 2 organ scholars.
In 1995, the choir recorded their first album, 'Anacheed Al Kanissa Al Orthodoxia', which was composed of 12 pieces of old Arabic Orthodox chants. The album was recorded at the Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut.
'Anacheed Al Kanissa Al Orthodoxia' was not officially released until 2017, when it was made available on major digital distributors. The album received critical acclaim from the Arab Christian community.
The choir's subsequent recordings were mainly released by Quartos.
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The choir's first album was composed of old Arabic Orthodox chants
The Choir of Beirut, also known as the Choir of the Orthodox Church of Beirut, was founded in 1992 by مارسيل خوري (Marcél Khourie). The choir consists of 3 boy and 2 girl choristers, aged between 9 and 13 years old, and 14 male undergraduates studying a variety of subjects. There are also two organ scholars.
The choir's first album, 'Anacheed Al Kanissa Al Orthodoxia', was recorded in 1995 and officially released on major digital distributors in 2017. The album consists of 12 pieces of old Arabic Orthodox chants recorded at the Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut. The album was met with critical acclaim by the Arab Christian community.
The choir provides music for the daily offices and celebrations of the Mass at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut. Their music has been described as Lebanese contemporary classical music.
The choir's founder, Marcél Khourie, was a medical student at the American University of Beirut. The choir's first live performance was at the West Hall at the American University of Beirut in 1986.
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The choir has performed in Lebanon, Greece and the USA
Choir singing has only been introduced to Lebanon in the past decade, but the country already has several choirs that have performed in Lebanon and beyond. One such choir is the Saint Romanos Choir of Beirut, also known as "Saint Romanos the Melodist" Choir. The choir was founded in 2000 and consists of graduates of The “Saint Romanos School of Ecclesiastical Music” in Beirut. The choir's purpose is to perform well-known chants, especially those by Antiochian composers, as well as some new compositions by the choir’s leader, Fr. Romanos. The choir has performed in Arabic, Greek, and English in Lebanon, Greece, and the USA.
The Choir of Beirut, also known as the Choir of the Orthodox Church of Beirut, was founded in 1992 by Marcél Khourie. The choir comprises 3 boy and 2 girl choristers, aged between 9 and 13 years, and 14 male undergraduates reading for degrees in a variety of subjects. There are also two organ scholars. The choir's first album, 'Anacheed Al Kanissa Al Orthodoxia', was recorded in 1995 and released on major digital distributors in 2017. The choir provides music for the daily offices and celebrations of the Mass at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut.
Another notable Lebanese choir is the Fayha Choir, which has represented Lebanon in over 20 countries, including Greece and the USA. The choir is inclusive and has members from various religious and societal backgrounds. It has three branches: Tripoli, Beirut, and Baakline. The NDU Choir of the Notre Dame University, established in 1993, is the oldest choir in Lebanon.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Choir of Beirut is the choir of the Orthodox Church of Beirut.
The choir's first album, 'Anacheed Al Kanissa Al Orthodoxia', was recorded in 1995 and released officially in 2017.
The choir comprises 3 boys, 2 girls, 14 male undergraduates, and 2 organ scholars.
مارسيل خوري (Marcél Khourie) founded the choir in 1992.
The choir provides for the daily offices and celebrations of the Mass at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut.
