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Like a shooting star in the firmament of the great organist traditions, Lebanon shines brightly, rivaling the European countries that have seen the emergence of these virtuosos of heavenly keys. If France has given birth to the illustrious Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) and Jean Langlais (1907-1991), Germany revealed in Günther Werner (1898-1956) a majestic organ, and Austria in Martin Haselböck (born in 1954) an inspired mastery, then Lebanon, with the finesse of the enchanting harmonies of its demiurges, celebrates in Naji Hakim (born in 1955) an exceptional musical ambassador. His transcendent virtuosity and prodigious inspiration have elevated the king of instruments to the heights of musical expression. Indeed, over the decades, Naji Hakim has embraced creative audacity in all its forms, exploring new musical horizons. Contemporary influences have woven a harmonious and harmonic tapestry into his work, blending exciting orientalist colors, delicately drawn from Levantine music, the impressionistic palette of Claude Debussy (1862-1918), the innovative audacity of Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) and Paul Dukas (1865-1935), the exotic accents of George Gershwin (1898-1937), and the sacred echoes of Gregorian chant.
Comparable to a musical alchemist, Naji Hakim has succeeded in merging these disparate elements into a symphony of rare sophistication, distilling melodic motifs that often flirt with exultation. In such musical evolution, he reveals an ever-increasing mastery of melodic storytelling, unveiling complex emotions and evocative atmospheres, while inherently carrying a sacred praise to the glory of God. Amidst a musical Europe inclined toward atonality, Naji Hakim proudly rises in the art of tonality, allowing his harmonies to blossom against the current. Consequently, he transports his audience to uncharted lands where the spirit escapes and the soul finds solace, where chords overlap and contrapuntal lines respond to each other with exquisite grace, creating striking colors and meticulously sculpted musical textures. His work embodies a subtle dialogue between tradition and innovation, between heritage and avant-garde, transcending the boundaries of ingenuity, inviting rare music aficionados to delve into the depths of pure and ethereal emotion. Like celestial messengers, the pipes of the organ, the sacred “ancilla Domini” (that is, servant of the Lord), will perpetuate the grandeur of the Lebanese master’s musical heritage, transmitting to future generations the evocative power of his genius.