Mitri el-Murr: An Antiochian Orthodox Cantor Visits the United States
Mitri el-Murr: An Antiochian Orthodox Cantor Visits the United States
 |
| Young Mitri-el Murr. Courtesy of Jack Rabah. |
Antiochian Orthodox priest and cantors churned out more than their share of 78 rpm discs from the 1920s to the 1950s. These included compositions and/or performances by Rev. Agapios Golam, Metropolitan Germanos Chehade, Archbishop Samuel David, and Rev. Ilyas T. Kurban. Arguably the most commercially successful of these was Metropolitan Germanos Chehade, the defiant archbishop known widely for his musical talent and one of Baidaphon’s leading religious singers. Mitri el-Murr or “Mitri eff. El-Mourr” stood out as arguably one of the most prolific composers and vocalists to headline on Baidaphon and record in the Byzantine tradition. Long the focus of students and scholars of Greek, Arabic, and Byzantine chant, scholars debate his legacy, the originality of his compositions, and the ways to best reproduce his work as he intended. Nevertheless, his 78 rpm recordings of patriotic and religious music stand as testament to his effort to document his work in multiple media forms for our examination.
Mitri el-Murr was born 7 November 1880 to Elias el-Murr and Nereve Rowady in Tripoli, Great Syria (Lebanon). Elias served as an Antiochian Orthodox priest and soon recognized Mitri’s vocal and musical gifts. Using his connections and influence, Elias sent Mitri to school and later guided him to some of the most learned cantors in the ecclesiastical Byzantine tradition, including famed Antiochian psaltis and teacher Yousef el-Domani. Under Doumani, Mitri’s musical knowledge and vocal skill expanded immensely. Soon, at only age fifteen, Mitri sang and chanted regularly at church services assisting el-Doumani. Impressed by Mitri’s progress, Yousef el-Doumani and his brother, the soon-to-be appointed Patriarch Meletius el-Doumani, pressed the young student to return to school and by age 23 Mitri el-Murr received a teaching appointment at Balamand Monastery, now under Meletius el-Doumani’s leadership.
Whether el-Murr ever considered the priesthood remains unclear, however, he married Nahza el-Doumani, one of Meletius’s neices and Yousef’s granddaughters, in 1907. Together, Nahza and Mitri had nine children (six sons and three daughters, some sources suggest they had eleven and others as many as fifteen children). Around this time, at least one of Mitri el-Murr’s siblings, Shookery, immigrated to the United States. Shookery resided near Detroit, in Mount Clemens and Ann Arbor before settling in Grosse Point, Michigan. He served in the 24th Company, Sixth Battalion, 106th Brigade of the United States Army from 31 March 1918 to 18 May 1918. Shookery married Zakie Arwady on 23 July 1922. Within a year of their marriage, Shookery and Zakie had Pauline.
Baidaphon Records launched the same year Mitri married Nahza via a collaboration among a group of Lebanese cousins living in Beirut and Berlin. With it, the Near East had its first major record label. Germanos Chehade and Mitri el-Murr stood out as singers and vocalists who released secular and sacred music and both likely moved respectable numbers of units based on the frequency by which these singers discs are found today. El-Murr discs included B 083042 "Elyom Yom el Kiamat," B083043 "Eksio Esni Lahnel Khames," B 083048 "Nachid Chouadat El Watan," B 083049 "Lebnam Sami," B 084520/1 "Sirou Lilharbi 1 & 2," B 084526 "Ya Man Yahounou," and B 084527 "Anti Sourya Biladi." His repertoire represents a plethora of patriotic and religious songs.
 |
| Courtesy of Richard M. Breaux collection. Mitri el-Murr, "Anti Sourya Biladi," https://youtu.be/S6sZMDPohO0 Mitri el-Murr, "Ya man yahounou 084526," https://youtu.be/5xLqq78M1N4 Mitri el-Murr’s appointment at Balamand appears to have been more secure than Meletius el-Doumani’s position as patriarch. Ethnic controversy surrounded el-Doumani’s elevation to patriarch given the fact that previously no Arabs, only Greeks since 1724, had held the position of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. According to most sources, the Greek Orthodox patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, and Jerusalem rejected election of Meletius II (1898-1906) and Gregory IV (1906-1928) as Antioch’s patriarchs. Nonetheless, it was with Patriarch Gregory IV, that Mitri el-Murr visited Saint Petersburg, Russia for the 300th year celebration of the Romanov reign at the invitation of Tzar Nicholas II in February and March 1913. El-Murr likely performed during the ceremonies over which Patriarch Gregory IV presided and received two medals, courtesy of Nicholas II. Whether Gregory and El-Murr accompanied Nicholas II’s entourage across Russia remains unclear. Orthodox churches, no doubt, made up a significant portion of stops during the Royal pilgrimages. |
 | |
Courtesy of Richard M. Breaux collection.
|
Following Mitri’s time in Russia, he toured Constantinople and lived in Damascus, Syria. He lived and studied in Syria throughout the course of World War I and in the Kingdom of Syria during its brief existence from 1919 to 1920 under King Faisal I. At some point, either under Faisal’s rule of Syria or after Faisal became ruler of Iraq, Mitri received medals from Faisal. El-Murr wore these throughout his life, even in his latter years, with great pride.
With the region in transition between Ottoman collapse, various monarchies, and the League of Nation mandate, Mitri el-Murr missed his brother’s Michigan wedding in 1922. Interestingly, Shookery sailed to Lebanon to visit his relatives and Mitiri returned with him on board the S.S. Byron on 17 October 1930. Finally, Mitri managed to visit the United States. Immigration officials noted Mitri’s occupation as a musician, rather than a merchant. He stood at 5’6” tall, intended to remain in the United States for six months, and arrived with $600 in his pocket. Although his brother lived in Michigan, he volunteered 83 Washington Street in Manhattan’s Little Syria as the address for his unnamed US contact.
Did A.K. Hitti or Fred J. Bistany help book Mitri el-Murr's travel arrangements? We are uncertain. A.K. Hitti and Fareed (Fred) J. Bistany operated a steamship and tourist agency at 83 Washington Street in 1930. Other businesses on the block included Miraat-Ur-Gharb and Ash-Shaab newspapers run out of 80 Washington Street. A.J. Macksoud's phonograph store occupied 88 Washington Street and Michel Macksoud's Radio Lab radio equipment store sold tubes, parts, and full radio sets at 54 Washington Street. Competing phonograph producer, seller, and musician Alexander Maloof saw constant and continuous foot traffic at 92 Washington Street. A.J. Mackoud sold copies of el-Murr's Baidaphon 78 rpm records in his store.
 |
| S.S. Byron Passenger list includes Mitrti Murr. 17 October 1930. Courtesy of Ancestry.com |
Reconstrcuting a list of places el-Murr performed in the US is not possible but the Syrian World announced his arrival in its November 1930 issue and Saint Nicholas Society sponsored a concert for him on 27 and 30 December 1930 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He also visited Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn. Visits to Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan followed. Mitri later sang at Saint Luke Episcopal auditorium and Saint George Orthodox Church in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and the Eagle’s Home in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in June and July, 1931.
 |
| Mitri el Murr performs in Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre Times, 24 July 1931. Courtesy of Newspapers.com |
Upon his return to Beirut, he opened Mitri Murr & Sons or Mitri Murr & Fils, selling and trading goods from Beirut to Damascus. Records became one of the groups of items sold by his business as evidenced by his dealer stickers. There is no listed address but we know he sold Decca, Fonit, Capitol, Brunswick, Riviera, and Telefunken records. On occasion, visitors from the United States, parishioners of his students who became priests, and others who may have once heard his singing in person, or those for whom his singing became legend, purchased recordings from him. Archbishop Samuel David of Toledo, Ohio, emerged as perhaps one of his most celebrated students. As time passed, he continued to sing, compose, translate, and teach.
 |
| 1940s Mitri Murr dealer sticker. Courtesy of Richard M. Breaux collection. |
Mitri el-Murr died 31 August 1969. Several of his compositions and translations, at lest seven volumes, were published by Fouad el-Murr and Elias el-Murr, two of his sons, according to chanter and researcher Jack Rabah. Elias, too, became a cantor at Saint Mary’s Church of Domination in Beirut and passed in 2016. His services were held at Saint Dimitrius Church.
Special thanks to Mr. Jack Rabah.
Richard M. Breaux
© Midwest Mahjar
.
Comments
Post a Comment