Ragheb Moftah collection of Coptic Orthodox liturgical chants and hymns, 1926-1997 (bulk 1926-1936).

ArchivalResource

Ragheb Moftah collection of Coptic Orthodox liturgical chants and hymns, 1926-1997 (bulk 1926-1936).

The collection consists of transcriptions (14 volumes) of Coptic chant by Ernest Newlandsmith and Margit Toth; audio tapes of Coptic chants recorded by Moftah between 1940 and 1985 (with the bulk recorded in 1965 and 1975-1985); correspondence (most importantly, letters from Ernest Newlandsmith to Ragheb Moftah concerning their collaboration). Also included are writings that consist of articles by Moftah, his autobiography, and notes concerning Coptic chant. The collection also contains articles written by Marian Robertson Wilson concerning the Newlandsmith transcriptions of Coptic chant, clippings, tickets, receipts, photographs, a few legal papers, and four videotapes that include a biographical interview of Dr. Moftah conducted by Raymond Stock for a Library of Congress oral history project as part of its World Heritage series (1996-1997); videotapes of Ragheb Moftah's 100th birthday party (December 21, 1998) and his funeral (June 19, 2002), and an interview with Margit Toth and Dr. Martha Roy (March 13, 2002) conducted by Laurence Moftah. Finally, in 1996 Marian Robertson Wilson was commissioned by the Music Division to create a guide to Moftah's audiotapes, which consists of transcriptions, transliterations and translations into English of the texts sung on the tapes. Wilson also devised a new order for the pieces on the tapes, putting them in a more logical order, as used in the context of the liturgy.

around 3,000 items (18 boxes, 6 linear feet).

eng,

cop,

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7764160

Library of Congress

Related Entities

There are 6 Entities related to this resource.

Roy, Martha.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6g76wz5 (person)

Tóth, Margit.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6wt6mg5 (person)

Wilson, Marian Robertson, 1926-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67t1tvs (person)

Mormon biographer. From the description of Leroy Robertson : music giant from the Rockies, 1996. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367423672 ...

Coptic Church

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vb3598 (corporateBody)

Newlandsmith, Ernest

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65t728q (person)

Moftah, Ragheb

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vq6khv (person)

Ragheb Moftah was born Dec. 21, 1898, in Egypt. He was a musicologist, scholar, and a pioneer of the preservation of the Coptic liturgical music heritage. Moftah and Ernest Newlandsmith collaborated together from 1927 to 1936, the latter transcribing from live Coptic music performances some 16 folios of music notation. In 1945, Moftah established a center to teach Coptic chant melodies. By 1954, Moftah was among the founders of the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies, and established its Music Di...