Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Lebanon

Birth

:

1938

Death

:

2021

 

Elias Rahbani is a Lebanese composer, arranger, and pianist who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born in Antelias, Lebanon, in 1938, Rahbani grew up in a family of musicians. His father, Assi Rahbani, was a composer and musician, and his mother, Nuhad Haddad, was a singer. His younger brother, Mansour Rahbani, was also a composer and musician. Rahbani began his musical education at a young age, studying piano and music theory with his father. He later attended the Lebanese National Conservatory of Music, where he studied composition, orchestration, and conducting. He also studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he was exposed to a wide range of musical styles and techniques. Rahbani's early works were heavily influenced by Western classical music, particularly the works of Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin. He also drew inspiration from Lebanese folk music and Arabic classical music, which he incorporated into his compositions. His early works include a number of piano pieces, chamber music, and orchestral works. In the 1960s, Rahbani began collaborating with his brother Mansour on a series of musicals that would become known as the Rahbani Brothers' Trilogy. The first of these, "The Return of the Phoenix," premiered in 1961 and was a critical and commercial success. The musicals combined elements of Western musical theater with Lebanese and Arabic music, and featured elaborate sets, costumes, and choreography. Rahbani's contributions to the Rahbani Brothers' Trilogy included composing and arranging the music, conducting the orchestra, and playing piano. He also worked closely with Mansour on the lyrics and storyline. The trilogy was followed by a number of other musicals, including "Petra," "Al Mahatta," and "Sahriye." In addition to his work on the musicals, Rahbani continued to compose and arrange music for other artists. He worked with a number of prominent Lebanese singers, including Fairuz, Sabah, and Wadih El Safi. He also composed music for films and television shows, including the popular Lebanese television series "Sah El Nom." Rahbani's later works continued to explore the intersection of Western classical music and Arabic music. He composed a number of symphonies, including "Symphony of the Sea" and "Symphony of the Cedars," which incorporated Lebanese folk music and Arabic classical music. He also composed a number of piano concertos, including "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra" and "Concerto for Piano and Strings." Throughout his career, Rahbani received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. He was awarded the National Order of the Cedar by the Lebanese government in 2001, and was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace in 2008. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation in 2013. Elias Rahbani's legacy as a composer and musician continues to be felt in Lebanon and beyond. His innovative blending of Western classical music and Arabic music has inspired generations of musicians and composers, and his contributions to the Rahbani Brothers' Trilogy have become an important part of Lebanese cultural heritage.

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