Laments of Lebanon

Funeral music in Lebanon dates from pre-Islamic antiquity and draws from a variety of secular and religious practices of singing and poetry. The performances on this album, recorded between 1965 and 1970, capture the various Lebanese sounds of mourning from across Christian and Druze religious communities. They also demonstrate the different roles played—and techniques enlisted—by men and women at such ceremonies. The recording predominantly features the dirge-like vocal genre known as nabd and concludes with several funeral marches played by brass bands. The liner notes by Professor Ali Jihad Racy contain photographs, transcriptions of melodies and lyrics, and historical background on Lebanese funeral traditions.

Track Listing

101	Nadb for an Adult Male	Salman al-Ḥarfush and four-man chorus	02:46
102	Hida for a Deceased Young Man	Salman al-Ḥarfush and four-man chorus	02:28
103	Nadb for a Deceased Girl	Fawz al-Ḥarfush and four-woman chorus	02:10
104	Tabnin (Lullaby) for a Deceased Young Girl	Fawz al-Ḥarfush and four-woman chorus	01:14
105	Fraqiyyat for a Young Woman	Fawz al-Ḥarfush	01:46
106	Nadb Bemoaning Ill-Fate	Fawz al-Ḥarfush and four-woman chorus	01:37
107	Nadb for an Older Man	Fawz al-Ḥarfush and four-woman chorus	02:45
108	Qasidah for an Eminent Woman	Salman al-Ḥarfush and four-man chorus	03:09
109	Nadb for a Deceased Boy	Salman al-Ḥarfush and four-man chorus	02:47
201	Nadb for an Old Man	Women performing at a funeral, village of 'Ayn Zhalta	03:19
202	Fraqiyyat For An Old Man	Women performing at a funeral, village of 'Ayn Zhalta	01:36
203	Nadb Medley for an Old Man	Women performing at a funeral, village of 'Ayn Zhalta	04:00
204	Skaba and Fraqiyyat for an Old Man	Women performing at a funeral, village of 'Ayn Zhalta	02:16
205	Nadb for an Old Man	Women performing at a funeral, village of 'Ayn Zhalta	01:36
206	Funeral March by a Village Brass Band	Brass band from al-Mtayn, al-Khinsharah	04:26
207	A Near Eastern March	Brass band from al-Mtayn, al-Khinsharah	03:47
208	Marching Music	Brass band from al-Mtayn, al-Khinsharah	01:21