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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 11^th 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 5^th 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 (3^rd mode) [1:28]
St. Matthew’s Gospel, 1:4-10 [3:19]
Wonderful Mystery (1^st 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]  

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