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Naji Hakim

Naji Hakim was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1955. From 1975, he studied organ with J. Langlais in Paris, and continued his musical studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, in the classes of R. Boutry, J.-C. Henry, M. Bitsch, R. Falcinelli, J. Castérède and S. Nigg, where he was awarded seven first prizes. He is a licentiate teacher of organ at Trinity College of Music in London and has won ten first prizes at international organ and composition competitions. In 1991 he was awarded the Prix André Caplet from the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Hakim was organist of the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur, Paris from 1985 until 1993, when he succeeded Olivier Messiaen at the Eglise de la Trinité, a position that he held until 2008. He is professor of musical analysis at the Conservatoire National de Région de Boulogne-Billancourt, and in 2001 was Composer in Residence at Trinity College of Music, London. He is a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications in Paris, member of the Consociatio Internationalis Musicae Sacrae in Rome and Doctor honoris causa of the University Saint-Esprit of Kaslik, Lebanon. In 2007, His Holiness the Pope Benediktus XVI awarded Naji Hakim the Augustae crucis insigne pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, for his excellent commitment to and work for the benefit of the Church and the Holy Father.

His works include instrumental music (organ, flute, bassoon, horn, trumpet, harp, guitar, violin, piano), symphonic music (Les Noces de l’Agneau, Hymne de l’Univers, Ouverture Libanaise, Påskeblomst, four organ concertos, a violin concerto), and vocal music (oratorio Saul de Tarse, cantata Phèdre, Magnificat and three masses).

Orchestral

Concerto No.1 for Organ and Strings (1988)

organ and string orchestra - 15'

Concerto No.3 for Organ and String Orchestra (2003)

organ and string orchestra - 21'

Crux fidelis (2021)

concerto for alto saxophone and string orchestra - 15'

(also available in a version for saxophone and string quintet, and for saxophone and piano)

Die Engel (2022)

'The Angels'. Text by KMD Katja Bettenhausen.

Cantata for SMzTB soli, SATB choir ad lib. and chamber ensemble: flute, clarinet in Bb, bassoon, harp, violin, viola, cello and organ - c.35'

(Could be performed by SMzTB soli - ie without a choir)

Fantaisie Celtique (1985)

piano and orchestra: 2222/2200, timp, strings - 10'

Listen to a sample clip

Paul-André Gaye, pno, Orchestre du Conservatoire National de Région de Boulogne-Billancourt, dir. Pierre Calmelet

Hymne de l'Univers (1997)

orchestra: 3333/4431, timp, 4 perc, 2 harps, pf, strings: 16.14.12.10.8 - 10'

Les Noces de l'Agneau (1996)

orchestra: 2222/2200, timp, perc, strings - 18'

Levantine Variations (2022)

cello and orchestra: 2222/4330/timp, harp, strings - 19'

Listen to a sample clip

Levantine Variations for Cello and Orchestra (NB - this is a computer generated audio track)

Messe Solennelle (2015)

SATB choir and orchestra: 2222/2230/timp, perc (triangle, tambourine, cymbal, snare drum, bass drum, glockenspiel), harp, strings - 21'

Montmartre Variations (2025)

orchestra: 2222/2200/timp/strings - 13'

Nour (2016)

Holy Land Rhapsody

orchestra: 1111/1000, tamburin, darbouka (drum, shaped like a goblet, from the Middle East), daf (large frame drum, resembling a tambourine, from the Middle East), qanoun (or harpsichord, or upright piano), strings - 13'

Påskeblomst (2005)

variations for string orchestra - 18'

(also available in a version for string quartet)

Phèdre (2004)

soprano and orchestra: 2222/2200/timp.perc.harp/strings - 16'

Rheinische Rhapsodie (2026)

wind orchestra and organ - c. 15'

[Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, Cor Anglais, Clarinet in E flat, 3 Clarinets in B flat, Bass Clarinet in B flat, Contrabass Clarinet in B flat, 2 Bassoons, Contrabassoon, Soprano Saxophone in B flat, 2 Alto Saxophones in E flat, Tenor Saxophone in B flat, Baritone Saxophone in E flat, 4 Horns in F, 2 Trumpets in B flat, 2 Cornets in B flat, 2 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Euphonium in B flat, Euphonium in C, 4 Tubas, Timpani, Percussion (10 players): Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Vibraphone – Marimba, Tubular Bells, Triangle, Castanets – Wood Blocks, Tambourine, Snare Drum – Tenor Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Tam-Tam – Bass Drum, Piano, Harp, Organ, Double Bass.]

Seattle Concerto (2000)

Concerto No.2 for Organ and Orchestra

organ and orchestra: 3333, 4331, timp, 7perc, 2hp, pno, strings - 30'.

Commissioned by the American Guild of Organists.

First performance: Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet-Hakim, organ, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Gerald Schwarz, conductor, 6 July 2000, Benaroya Hall, Seattle.

Variations on a Marian Hymn (2019/2024)

'Ya Mariamu Lbikru Fuqti'

string orchestra - 17'.

Chamber

Crux fidelis (2021)

concerto for alto saxophone and string quintet - 15'

(also available in a version for saxophone and string orchestra, and for saxophone and piano)

Die Engel (2022)

'The Angels'. Text by KMD Katja Bettenhausen.

Cantata for SMzTB soli, SATB choir ad lib. and chamber ensemble: flute, clarinet in Bb, bassoon, harp, violin, viola, cello and organ - c.35'

(Could be performed by SMzTB soli - ie without a choir)

Listen to a sample clip

Die Engel - digital audio track

Divertimento (1987)

guitar quartet - 7'

First performance: 24 March 1988, Mont-de-Marsan, Quatuor Guitares des Landes

Listen to a sample clip

Divertimento

Hymn to Alberto Giacometti's 'Woman with Chariot' (2021)

brass quintet: 2 trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba - 2'

Impression au Soleil Couchant (2023)

string trio: violin, viola and cello - 4'30"

Invention (2018)

4 trombones - 4'

Listen to a sample clip

NB - this is a digitally generated audio track

Kammerkoncert II (2011)

flute, clarinet, bassoon, harp, piano, violin, viola and cello - 10'

Overture for the King of Kings (2021)

organ, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones and percussion (triangle, snare drum) -

Påskeblomst (2007)

string quartet - 18'

(also available in version for string orchestra)

Listen to a sample clip

Movement 1 (Signum CD245 www.signumrecords.com)

Movement 2

Movement 3

Movement 4

Movement 5

Movement 6

Movement 7

Movement 8

Movement 9

Movement 10

Prelude et Fugue (1983)

bassoon quartet - 7'

Listen to a sample clip

Prelude and Fugue

Rondo (2018)

wind quintet and piano - 6'

Rondo (2017)

txistu (or flute), wind quintet and piano - 6'

Sextuor (1988)

organ (or piano), string quintet - 15'

may also be performed by organ and string orchestra as 'Concerto No.1 for Organ and Strings'

The Cloths of Heaven (2018)

text W. B. Yeats

soprano, recorder, oboe, viola and cello - 5'

Variations on a Marian Hymn (2019)

'Ya Mariamu Lbikru Fuqti'

string quartet - 17'

Variations on a Marian Hymn (2019/2024)

'Ya Mariamu Lbikru Fuqti'

string quintet - 17'

Variations on Ludwig van Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' (2024)

string quartet

Variations on Jesu dulcis memoria (2023)

violin, cello and piano

Organ Solo and Duet

Agapê (2001)

organ - 11'

Commissioned by John Roberts, 1 June 2002.

First performed by John Roberts, 16 June 2002, Royster Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.

Bagatelle (1997)

organ - 6'

Canticum (1995)

1. Conditor alme siderum; 2. Rorate coeli desuper; 3. O Emmanuel

Variations on Ave maris stella

organ - 8'

Glenalmond Suite (2007)

organ - 10'

Listen to a sample clip

Movement 1

Movement 2

Movement 3

Movement 4

Gregorian Triptych (2025)

Kyrie - Adoro te - Salve Regina

organ - 13'

Improvisation on 'Mihtar Youssef' (1999)

organ

transcribed by Taisan Holt

Laetare Jerusalem (2024)

organ - 6'

Le Tombeau d'Olivier Messiaen (1993)

1. Par ma vie, par ma mort; 2. Je rends grâce à Dieu; 3. Christ avec le Saint-Esprit dans la gloire du Père

organ - 20'

Lullaby (2023)

divided pedal

Lumière Pascale (2023)

À travers les Vitraux de Gerhard Richter

organ - 8'30"

Mariales (1993)

1. Incantation; 2. Pastorale; 3. Antienne; 4. Hymne; 5. Danse

organ - 8'

Marie-Carmen's Music Box (2020)

piano, celesta, harpsichord or organ - 4'

Memor (1989)

organ - 11'

Montallegro Variations (2022)

organ - 13'

Petite Suite (1983)

1. Diferencias; 2. Falsas; 3. Batalla

organ - 8'

Listen to a sample clip

1. Diferencias (Signum CD 389)

2. Falsas

3. Batalla

Listen to a sample clip

Movement 4

Sinfonia in Honore Sancti Ioannis Baptistæ (1996)

1. Ut queant laxis; 2. Ecce Agnus Dei; 3. In spiritu et igni

organ - 10'

Te Deum (1997)

organ - 10'

Trois Paraphrases sur 'Ave maris stella' (2003)

1. Sumens illud Ave; 2. Monstra te esse matrem; 3. Vitam praesta puram.

organ - 7'

Listen to a sample clip

1. Sumens illud Ave

2. Monstra te esse matrem

3. Vitam praesta puram

Ubi Caritas (2021)

organ - 5'

Variationen über 'Aus meines Herzens Grunde' und 'Alle gute Gabe' (2024)

organ - c. 11'

Variations on 'Es ist ein Ros entsprungen' (2022)

organ - 10'

Variations on Two Themes (1991)

'Old Hundredth' and 'Donne secours'

organ - 10'

Organ & Other Instrument(s)

Basque Anthology (2017)

Kurruxko (Affectionate word to call a child); Mendiko Soinuak (Sounds from the mountain); Itxastak (Brush strokes); Txoriak (Birds); Euskal Sonatatxoa (Basque Sonatina); Kontradantza (Country Dance)

Arrangements for txistu in F (or flute, or recorder) and piano (or harpsichord, or organ) of Basque Melodies by Jose Ignazio Ansorena, Jesus Guridi, Jose Maria Gonzalez Bastida, Padre Hilario Olazaran de Estella and Eusebio Basurko Zabaleta - 25'

Capriccio (2005)

violin and organ - 7'

Listen to a sample clip

Signum CD 245

Duo Concertant (1988)

organ and piano (arr. from 'Concerto No.1 for Organ and Strings') - 15'

Fantasia (2023)

trumpet and organ - 6'

KATIBIM (2024)

Variations on a Turkish Theme

trumpet and organ - 7'

Rondo for Christmas (1988)

trumpet and organ - 8'

Sonata (1994)

trumpet and organ - 15'

Suite Rhapsodique (2002 / arr. 2025)

cello and organ - 15'

Suite Rhapsodique (2002)

horn and organ - 15'

PIANO DUET

This cycle of piano duets draws on popular and traditional melodies from European, Latin American, Arabic, and sacred traditions, reimagined within the classical piano tradition. Far from simple arrangements, the pieces explore a wide expressive range, from rhythmic brilliance to inward lyricism. Conceived with my wife, Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet, this project celebrates shared music-making, friendship, and joy.