"Angels, Organs and Song"

The current Schneller magazine presents Middle Eastern church music

Did you know that there are similarities between the Islamic call to prayer and ancient church hymns? Or that Pharaonic melodies still resound in Coptic services today? Or that the second largest organ in the Middle East used to be in the Syrian Orphanage in Jerusalem?

You can read about this and much more in the current Schneller magazine, which pays special attention to the topic of church music in the Middle East. The cantor and organist, Klaus Schulten, who has already played on organs in Cairo, Jerusalem and Beirut, describes the very special sound of Jerusalem in the interview. He also knows a lot about the organ culture of the Schneller family in the Syrian Orphanage.

Fabian Vogt, in turn, spent a week rehearsing the anniversary song of the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) with students at the Johann Ludwig Schneller School in Lebanon. Heidi Josua reports on the songs sung in the Arab Evangelical Congregation in Stuttgart. And Coptic Bishop Damian builds bridges so that "Western" ears can also listen to Coptic hymns. Father Khalil Rahmé from Beirut writes about the great enthusiasm that the organ festival in Lebanon generates every year. And Krikor Alozian from Beirut finally introduces the Armenian KOUSAN choir and the music of Komitas Vardapet.

Find out more about Middle Eastern church music and the Schneller schools here....