Please post the Arabic text of that beautiful hymn. Do you have the musical notation for the English version too?
Here below, the Arabic text. As you know only too well, Maronite sacred music is 'memorized'. When Abouna arrived 5 years ago, he sat down with the organist and instructed him on how the music was to be played. Adapted melodies are formed when the composer, having to put a melody to a new text, uses an extant traditional melody which he adapts, with such modifications as are necessary, to the new text. The organist made his own 'personal', hand written, notations that only he can decipher. (When it was necessary to move the funeral for the baby that died last week to a larger church, one of the RC churches turned down Father's request, citing that ONLY their organist could use the new organ. Father asked if he was familiar with strophic chant and could interpret our organist's notations. There was silence at the other end of the phone).
Arabic Text - Fee Thoo- Lee
Chorus:
Fee Thoollee Heemay Ateekee
Naltajeeeoo Ya Maryam
La Tarooddee tilbatana
'Indama Nad'ookee
VS.1
Ya Fakhral Bariy-ya
Ya khyral wara
Ya bahral 'aty ya
Fid doonya jara
VS.2
Ya babas sama ee
Ya oomal feeda
Ya 'inar rajee
Ya nooral hooda
VS.3
Irhamee 'abeedan
Bato mookhleeseen
Yabghoonal mazeeda
Minkee Koollaheen.
Knowing how much you love Maronite hymns, here is a link to Fr. Antonio Elfeghali's web site where you can listen to Maronite music and download it as well. Working with a very old and out-dated computer on dial-up, Father Antonio helped me purchase some of these CDs.
Right now, I am listening to the Requiem Maronite, which you will find at this link. Enjoy! Many of these musical productions are performed by the NDU Choir (Notre Dame University). Tomorrow is Church cleaning day. I will bring several of these CDs with me to play as we scrub down the pews, dust off the statues, 'exorcize' the cobwebs and scrape off candle wax :-). What a tremendous blessing to have the privilege of cleaning the Church and its Sanctuary. Itraham alein. This Sunday, I serve as lector, a responsibility I approach with great humility and awe.
My prayers for all of you!