On May 3rd, 2023, the sun’s last rays, seeping through the nebulous greyish Beirut sky, marked the end of a prosperous period in the musical history of a tormented country that was once pompously called the “Switzerland of the Middle East”. On that gloomy day, a thick fog engulfed the capital while the chrysanthemums and carnations deposited a delicate scent upon the memories of a forlorn Lebanon. An idealized peasant Lebanon, sublimated by the creative talent and experimental ingenuity of Assi (1923-1986) and Mansour (1925-2009) Rahbani, the seraphic voice of Feyrouz (born in 1935), the unprecedented creativity in Wadih el-Safi’s (1921-2013) Levantine artistic musical tradition, the systemic hybridizations of Western influences, nevertheless imbued with the ferment of rural Lebanese land, characterizing Zaki Nassif (1918-2004), but also the musical patriotism, far from any pernicious nationalism, sectarianism or identity-based confessionalism, of Elie Choueiri (1939-2023). On this dismal evening of May 3, a pervasive, deafening silence spread everywhere, as the musical notes have orchestrated and accomplished one final dance. One of Lebanon’s ultimate songwriters has transcended towards eternal Glory. Elie Choueiri is now seated alongside all-time greats at the Olympian hall of Levantine music.
A flame has been extinguished and the black night has fallen inexorably upon the cedars: Music is in mourning. Artists such as Philimon Wehbe (1916-1985), Wadih el-Safi, Nasri Chamseddine (1927-1983), Sabah (1927-2014) and Elie Choueiri, to name but a few, have stood tall against cultural appropriation and commercialization in the Middle East. They have proudly dedicated their lives to the safeguarding of traditional Levantine music, enriching and advancing its modal, monodic aspect. With Elie Choueiri gone, Lebanon and the Arab world have lost a God-like figure. In his last interview, conducted by myself in June 2021, and published by Ici Beyrouth, Choueiri, who composed “Bektob esmik ya bladi” (I write your name, oh country of mine), would proudly say “Lebanon above all else!”. That being said, the Lebanese state will not declare a national mourning day for Elie Choueiri – as was the case when all of Queen Elizabeth II of England, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, and President Hafez al-Assad passed away, in 2022, 2015, 1970, and 2000 respectively. Poor Lebanon. Your artists do not belong to you; they belong to humanity. Only time will reveal their splendour and merit.
“Music begins where the possibilities of language end”, said Richard Wagner (1813-1883). So be it. Although the Lebanese state has remained shamefully silent, Ici Beyrouth pays tribute, alongside the pianist Elie Barrak, to the man who carved the name of his country onto the sun that never sets. On that occasion, we revisit the artist’s final interview in which he composed his very last piece.
