Voices pealing out in joy

The singers have all filed into their place. They’ve seen each other a lot over the last three months, if not longer, yet they still find a lot to talk about. They’re happy to see each other and to be there, and the bubbly chatter is resisting being stopped by the conductor waving her hands calling them to attention. Then it happens; with a snap, they’re suddenly locked on her every move, and with laserlike precision, their undivided focus and youthful exuberance has been set forth towards one goal.

Along with the orchestra, who playing music they probably have only been practicing for a week with expert deftness, all four voice-types are dancing around each other, complementing and emphasizing the other, and offering rock solid support to the soloist. The conductor is hardly impressed. “You need to allow the soloist’s voice to rise above yours. Also, take your cues from the orchestra more carefully. Let’s start from bar...”

Many would think Rajaa al-Amir, conductor for the university-age section of the al-Farah Choir, is too harsh on these college age students, who have been giving their all to this concert, but she’s just working to ensure that they put out the best concert possible. “We’re never really ready by concert time,” says Amir. “The conductor always has to let go in the end, and the performances are always superb, but not complete.”

Father Elias Zehlaoui established the al-Farah Choir in 1977, with only 55 children singing in it. Trying to escape the tedium of normal church choirs that were too confined by the boundaries of the church, Zehlaoui wanted to ensure that the choir chanted a general religious message, one that can be appreciated by all faiths, not just the Christian. He also wanted to start it with children so that the choir can continue to grow, rather than become monopolized by its set members, as it so often does when adults start a church choir. “I wanted to prove that children in our country are a force to be reckoned with,” says Zehlaoui, in his modest chambers at the Lady of Damascus Church. “Give them love and trust, and their unseen creative abilities come out.”

The choir has now blossomed into a choral association with more than 500 members, divided into 5 choirs set at different ages. The university group has been practicing the current program since August 19, and the concert is going to be derived from Arab Heritage, from the different regions of the Arab World, such as North Western Africa, Central North Africa, Eastern North Africa, the Levant, and the Arab Gulf. At the end of the concert, there will be a panorama of different national anthems.

Everyone is feeling the pressure, and there is a lot of fatigue involved, but everyone is very determined. “The choir is free to join, and all the staff works for free, and therefore it’s hard to be demanding at the level that you need to be in order to put on a professional concert, as you can’t ask for more than they can possibly give,” explains Amir.

Come concert time, her fears seem completely unfounded. Immediately apparent is how much of a show this is: gone are the simple stands that dresssuit clad singers stand on in normal amateur choir concerts. This is a real production, with sets made to look like a craggy hillside, boulders and rocks adorning the stage. Everyone in the choir is wearing brown peasant garb, both in imitation of national dress and to blend in to the color of the earth. The orchestra and conductor are not left out, and they each have their own costumes, the conductor’s a party dress of the same brown as the choir’s, but with draping sleeves distinguishing her and offering her a touch of class. A screen that shows the name of the song and colors in the section of the Arab world the song they sing is from is behind the choir. At the very front is the slogan driving the whole concert: “The Earth Speaks Arabic.”

“We always try to do something special with our concerts,” says Dr. Habib Sulaiman, conductor of the adult age section and one of the first three children selected by Zehlaoui for the children’s choir in 1977. “At Christmas last year, angels walked across stage and clouds floating about. For our concert on November 25, we will stand in front of a picture of Old Damascus, while spinning dervishes dance on the stage.” The slogan of the concert holds special meaning for Zehlaoui. Since creating the concert, he has always wanted to emphasize and promote Arabic music and culture.

His biggest stroke of inspiration was when he asked singer Wadi’ al-Safi to compose music set to Arabic words of his choosing. “I chose from Christian, Mutassawef and Muslim texts, and [Safi] did it. We took this road together, and made a new style of general religious chants, to remind everyone that God is everyone’s god, and no one has a monopoly or a special claim on Him.” A special sign of their inclusivity was their selection for the Moon Islands song in the concert, “Asmar Jameel” (approximately Beautiful Brunette), which was sung very faithfully to the Arab-African style of the song. It’s a selection that is unusual in Syria, and one they pulled off with particular success. “One of our goals in the choir is to be a bridge,” says Zehlaoui. “First, between Christians, to motivate them into a unified path, but as important is the connection between Christians and Muslims, in Syria and across the Arab world, a reminder that God works for the good of everyone, and promotes peace and love among his people.”

Also important to Zehlaoui is to allow the choir to be a creative outlet for its members. Although he initially did all the choir’s work, from management to creative decision making to conducting, he has slowly over the years allowed the members to take over the majority of the responsibilities, and while his advice is still welcomed and readily provided, he has become more of a spiritual and personal advisor to all members.

Especially exciting for him is the talent that has grown out of the choir, and that has allowed some of its members to compose and write some of their own songs. “Six of the songs performed on November 25 are going to be originals by choir members,” says Sulaiman. “Two are mine, one speaks to them of peace, and the other talks of St. Paul, who was converted on the road to Damascus, and who the Vatican has decided to honor this year.”