SYRIAC ARCHITECTURE-MUSIC

ARCHITECTURE: TRIFORA (THE 3 BAYS OF LEBANESE HOUSES):

The presence of 3 bays in traditional lebanese houses has a religious meaning: it is the light of the Holy Trinity. This is based on Codex Rabulensis (from the syriac Rabulla) present in the library of Florence Italy, previously in Wadi Qannoubine Lebanon. Dr Amine Jules Iskandar explains it in this video:

Here is a link to a conference (in french) given by Dr Iskandar about the Trifora: http://www.rotarybeyrouth.org/site/documents/upload/Amine%20%20Iskandar.pdf

– “La trifora libanaise” (the Lebanese triple arche and its Syriac meaning) in Parole de L’Orient (Mélto) . Actes du 9° Symposium Syriacum, issue 31 (2006)
– “La trifora libanaise” (the Lebanese triple arche and its Syriac meaning) in Fann wa ‘imarah (revue spécialisé de l’Académiede Beaux Arts de l’Université Libanaise), issue 1 (décembre 2006)
– “La maison à trois arcades” (The triple arche and its Syriac meaning in Lebanese architecture) in Byzance, issue 10(February-March 2005).

He explains also here the meaning of other symbols seen in religious churches and monuments and the symbolism of armenian carpet and the Lys flower (zanbak):

and here another reflexions on syriac architecture:

and here too: about the engravings on syriac maronites churches stones:

 

HISTORY OF MUSIC-ICONES:

  • History of syriac liturgical music: http://mosc.in/the_church/liturgy/liturgical-music
  • Lebanese Zajal: syriac origin: http://lebanonpostcard.com/en/book_lebanese_zajal/index.shtml
  • Influence of syriac on popular music Duraid Barbar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=564Pi9FPbFc
  • Musician composer Nuri Iskandar speaks about syriac origin of:  muslim religious hymns (at 27:42 -29:00- 30:00-32:00), of koudoud 7alabiya. He mentions too influence of syriac music on mouwacha7at andaloussiya and occidental religious music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD_hs1G6FZk
  • Syriac liturgical music references: https://dss-syriacpatriarchate.org/%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%81%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a/%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%88%d8%b3%d9%8a%d9%82%d9%89-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a%d8%a9/
  • Syriac icones references: https://dss-syriacpatriarchate.org/%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%81%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a/%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%88%d8%b3%d9%8a%d9%82%d9%89-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a%d8%a9/

HYMNS – TUR LEVNON:

These hymns are either done or edited by Tur Levnon:

 

OTHER SYRIAC HYMNS:

 

CHRISTMAS HYMNS WRITTEN IN SYRIAC BY TUR LEVNON DR SAMER SEMRANY:

Adeste Fidèles: sung by Layal Nehmé – Les anges dans nos campagnes: sung by Carole Lahoud – In little town, in the Galilee of peoples: sung by Rodolphe Mouawad- What child is this: sung by Layal Nehmé – On Simon Peter the Lord built his church:sung by Rodolphe Mouawad.

These hymns were among others in the Christmas Recital held at Mar Mikhael Church Bikfaya on 16 december 2017.