Mix: Christmas in Mourning

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Today (December 24, 2023) at 8:00 p.m. Bethlehem time, Radio Alhara broadcast “Christmas in Mourning,” a program featuring the voice of Church of the Nativity choir head Laurence Sammour and composed by Beirut sound artists Abed Kobeissy and Sary Moussa. The following is their own description of the work:

It is with profound humility that we approached this work particularly in light of the inhumane brutality that present-day Palestine is witnessing. The immense cultural and spiritual significance of this land weighs heavily on us. Throughout the writing process Laurence’s voice and his presence served as a testament to an enduring vitality that this musical tradition holds. We hope this sonic piece reflects our awe of the heritage on which it is based, as well as our deep appreciation of the opportunity to contribute in producing art that, in many ways, sheds a brief light on the story of Palestine and its people. This commissioned work asserts Bethlehem’s decision to cancel all festive aspects of this year’s Christmas while Gaza is fiercely facing what can only be described as the purest forms of evil. For us, as musicians from Beirut, to be given the opportunity to be part of this stand, is a treasured privilege, to say the least.

00:00. Abed Kobeissy, Sary Moussa & Laurence Sammour – “Christmas in Mourning” [excerpt]

04:00. Sary Moussa – “Distance” from Imbalance (Other People, 2020)

04:25. Msylma & Ismael – “Enter Stage Right” from مذاهب النسيان [The Tenets of Forgetting] (Éditions Appærent, 2022)

11:28. Asifeh – “Ride Into Haze” from 2003 (self-released, 2020)

14:21. Bint Mbareh with Kareem Simara – “Jineen”

20:55. Fadi Tabbal – “Ceremony by the Sea” from Subject to Potential Errors and Distortions (Ruptured, 2020)

24:34. Yousef Anastas – “Through the Storm, in Your Arms” [excerpt]

28:19. داكنْ [Dakn] – “ج​و​ا ب​ع​ي​د [Too Low, Too Far]” from Too Low, Too Far (Bilna’es, 2020)

30:50. Petrels – “Concrete” from Haeligewielle (Tartaruga, 2011)

37:51. “Christmas in Mourning” [ending]