I- Biography: The legend

Mansour Rahbani (born in Antelias in 1925, died in 2009) grew up in an artistic environment. He studied successively at the Ibreen Sisters School of Antelias, the Farid Abou Fadel School, the Kamal Moukarzel School and the Jesuit School at Bikfaya . When his father died, Mansour was forced early to face the bitter side of life, and joined Beirut's juridical police when he was only seventeen years old. He received his first musical education on the hands of Father Paul el Ashkar, following which he studied Eastern music, musical scores, melodies, harmony, counterpoint, orchestration and musical analysis, Mansour was also thoroughly acquainted with rare and valuable references such as the Kamel el Khalay book, the compositions of El Kendy and El Faraby, and the Shehabiya research in the Arab musical melodies.

Mansour studied for nine years under the guidance of Bertrand Robillard, who is considered to be the main catalyst which allowed the young Rahbani’s talent to shine through. In the words of the great composer Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Mansour’s musical gift changed the fate of Eastern music and song. During his musical education he collaborated with his brother Assi in creating the “Rahbani Brothers”. Striving together to overcome the limitations of selfishness and single-mindedness, they took their new artistic direction to the Lebanese Radio in 1945. It is a well-known fact that the delivery of a “Rahbanian” song was not an easy task; however, it had the ability to face up to the strong current of the traditional song and heritage, which dominated the entirety of the Eastern World since the beginning of the twentieth century, through Salma Hegazi and Abdou el Hamoli.

The two brothers went on to join the ranks of the Near East Radio, where they composed many artistic works as well as a series of sketches entitled “Sabeh and Makhoul”. When Assi Rahbani married Nouhad Haddad (also known as Fairuz) in 1955, the two brothers formed a new Rahbani trio with her. They would compose poems and songs, which Fairuz would sing with great prowess. The music of the Rahbani Brothers was inspired by the Arab, Islamic, Maronite and Byzantine musical traditions, in addition to Lebanese folklore, and they are deeply acquainted with western classical music.

As for the Rahbanian singing theatre, it is considered a unique form, which differs somewhat from the international standard for operas. Their special style, known as the “Rahbani Theatre”, focuses on the values of dignity, truth, gracefulness, and the depth of its philosophical subjects in order to concentrate on the three main subjects of God, the Human Being, and the Land. Taking the Piccadilly Theatre in Beirut as its springboard, the Rahbani Theatre flew to the entirely of the Arab world, and gave distinguished performances in Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Egypt, the Arab Emirates, Syria, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Lybia, in addition to several artistic tours in the cities of London, Manchester, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, twelve American states and Canada.

The writings of the Rahbani Theatre are concerned with history, the country, the land, the future, and of course the fate of the poor and common people, with special emphasis on Lebanese folklore. The Rahbani Theatre also tackles the various socio-political problems of the Arab world, as shown in the Brothers’ numerous songs about the crises of Palestine and Algeria.

The Rahbani Theatre has succeeded in introducing a new generation of singers, who went on to become famous stars in the Arab world.

The Rahbani’s repertoire includes plays, poems and melodies that were introduced in the study programs of famous universities around the world, including the Sorbonne, Harvard, Oxford, as well as universities in Lebanon and the Arab world.

The Rahbani Brothers have also extended their activities to the world of cinema, and composed the music for three illustrious films: Biyaa el Khawatem (The merchant of Rings), Safar Barlek (Exile), and Bent el Hares (The Guardian’s Daughter).

Following the death of his brother, Mansour Rahbani wrote and produced grand theatrical plays including Saif 840, The Will, The last Days of Socrates, He Rose on the 3rd Day, The Maronite Mass, Abu Tayeb Al- Mutanabbi, Moulouk al Tawaef, The Last Day, Hekm al Rehyan, Gibran and The Prophet, Zenobia and the Return of the Phoenix.

II- Rahbanography:

Works of the Rahbani Brothers ( Assi and Mansour ) before Assi’s death

Theater:

1957 : « The harvest time » Baalbeck
1959 : « Trial » Baalbeck
1960 : « The glory time » Baalbeck
1961 : « The baalbacki girl » Baalbeck
1962 : « The moon bridge » Baalbeck
1963 : « The soldiers’ return Capitol Cinema Theater
1963 : « The night and the lamp Casino Du liban – Damascus
1964 : « The rings seller » The Cedars – Damascus
1965 : « The windmills » Baalbeck
1966 : « The reign of Fakhr El Din Baalbeck
1967 : « Hala and the King Piccadilly – The Cedars – Damascus
1968 : « The Person » ( AL SHAKHS ) Piccadilly – Damascus
1969 : « The Sylex mountains » baalbeck
1970 : «Viva!Viva »(YA3ICH YA3ISH ) Piccadilly
1971 : «Good morning»( Sah Al Naoum ) Piccadilly – Damascus
1972 : « The keys’ keeper » Baalbeck – Damascus
1972 : « Paper people » Baalbeck – Damascus
1973 : « The station » Piccadilly
1973 : « Love poem » Baalbeck
1974 : « Loulou » Piccadilly – Damascus
1975 : « Mays El Rim » Piccadilly – Damascus
1976 : « Variety show » Damascus – Amman – Baghdad - Cairo
1977 : « Petra » Amman – Damascus
1978 : « Petra » Piccadilly – Cadino Du Liban
1980 : « The conspiracy continues » Casino Du Liban
1984 : « The seventh spring » George V theater – Abidjan – Lagos
… : « A variety of theatrical shows» On world stages abroad

Cinema:

1965 : « The Rings Seller »
1966 : « Safarbarlak »
1967 : « The guard’s daughter »
And hundreds of TV and radio shows , programs, series , and sketches as well as thousands of songs around the world for famous singers .

Works of Mansour Rahbani after Assi’s death

Theather:

1988: «Summer 840» Casino Du Liban - Piccadilly - Tripoli - Beitedine - Zahleh - Damascus - Jericho festival - Carthage - Hammamat.
1994: «The Will» George V theater - Piccadilly - Amyoun Damascus - Jericho festival - Dubai.
1998: «The Last days of Socrates» Casino Du Liban - Cairo Opera house - Abu Dhabi .
1998: «Rahbanic Anthology » Baalbeck - rerun of three plays of the Rahbani Brothers with fairuz : the moon bridge - the Sylex mountains - the keys’ keeper .
2000: «He Rose on the 3rd day » Casino Du Liban
2001: «Abu - Tayeb Al Mutanabbi» Dubai - Baalbeck - Damascus - Forum de Beyrouth - Amman
2003: «Kings of Comunities» Casino Du Liban
2004: «The Last Day » Casino Du Liban
2004: «The Reign of the Shepherds» Beiteddine festivals - Damascus - Opera House - Allepo - Forum de Beyrouth - Qatar .
2005: «Gibran and the Prophet» Byblos International Festival - Forum de Beyrouth
2007: «Zenobia» Dubai - Byblos International Festival - Forum de Beyrouth
2008: «The Return of the Phoenix» Byblos International Festival - Casino du Liban - Dubai

Musical composition:

2000: «The Holy Mass» St Elijah Church - Antelias.
A large number of songs and musical compositions and compilations

Television:

1988: «Mansour Rahbani reads» 31 episodes dedicated to the most eminent Arab poets, read by Mansour Rahbani
1997: «Stages» (Mahattat) 13 episodes of variety shows

Poetry :

«I , the other strange man» (collection of poems)
«Alone , I travel as king» (collection of poems)
«Al Kousour Al Maiyat»
«Bahar Al Shiti»
«Kasaed Moughanat»
«The First Poems»
In addition to many lectures about arts, poetry and music in many Arab countries and a large number of articles about the Rahbani experience and a collection of poems to be published very soon.

A theater play and poetic, musical and literary works are in preparation.

Mansour Rahbani young

The artist passed away on 13.01.09 - منصور الرحباني

Profile of Rahbani Brothers