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Naji Hakim was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1955. He studied organ with Jean Langlais in Paris from 1975 and continued his musical studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, winning many prizes, and going on to win first prizes in the International Organ Competitions at Haarlem, Beauvais, Lyon, Nuremberg, St Albans, Strasbourg and Rennes. As a composer he has won the composition prize of the "Amis de l'orgue" (for his Symphonie en Trois Mouvements, 1984), the first prize in the International Composition Competition for organ, in memory of Anton Heiller (for The Embrace of Fire, Collegedale, Tennessee, 1986) and in 1991 he received the "Prix de Composition Musicale André Caplet", from the Académie des Beaux-Arts.
He 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 player of exceptional virtuosity, he is much in demand as a recitalist, improviser and teacher, with engagements for concerts and masterclasses taking him all over the world. He broadcasts and records frequently and his compositions have featured on several recent CD releases in performances by himself and others.
He is also professor of musical analysis at the Conservatoire National de Boulogne-Billancourt, and a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications in Paris. In 2000 he became member of the Consociatio Internationalis Musicae Sacrae in Rome. In 2002, he received the title «Doctor honoris causa» of the University Saint-Esprit of Kaslik, Lebanon and in 2004 he was composer in residence at Trinity College of Music, London.
LIST OF WORKS
Click on titles with links to call up a programme note
Paskeblomst (2005)
variations for string orchestra - 18'
Phèdre (2004)
Mezzo Soprano and Orchestra - 16'
Concerto No.3 for Organ and String Orchestra (2003)
Organ, String Orchestra - 21'
Seattle Concerto (1999)
For organ and orchestra
organ 3(picc)2(CorA)3(Basscl)3(Cbn)/44311 timp 6perc 2harp piano strings
Commissioned by American Guild of Organists
fp. by Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet-Hakim, organ and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra dir. Gerald Schwarz 6thJuly 2999 and Benaroya Hall, Seattle
Hymne de l'Univers (1997)
orchestra - 10'
3333/4431, timp, 4perc, 2 harps, pf, strings: 16.14.12.10.8
Les Noces de l'Agneau (1996)
orchestra - 18'
2222/2200, timp, perc, strings
Concerto No.1 for Organ and Strings (1988)
organ, string orchestra - 15'
Fantaisie Celtique (1985)
piano & orchestra - 10'
2222/2200, timp, strings
Jesu Redemptor Ominum (2005)
mixed choir, brass quintet, timpani and percussion - 15'
Ave Maris Stella (2003)
SATB Choir and Organ - 15'
Gloria (2002)
SATB & organ - 10 '
Commissioned by The Bach Choir for performance on 2 March 2003 at the Al Bustan Festival, Beirut, conducted by David Hill.
Trois Noels (2001)
1. Ding Dong! Merrily on High
2. O Tannenbaum (with optional violin solo)
3. Noel
Arranged for SATB a cappella
fp. Les Voix Melees with Marion Delorme, violin, 7th December 2001, Church of La Trinite, Paris
Children (1999)
SATB choir a cappella
Text from 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran
Commissioned by Festival Al Bustan
fp. Frederik Malmberg and his vocal ensemble, 19th March 2000, Lebanon
Messe Solennelle (1999)
For choir and organ
fp. Manchester Cathedral Choir 5th March 2000, Manchester Cathedral, England
Phèdre (1997)
mezzo-soprano & piano - 16'
Missa Redemptionis (1995)
SATB - soloists or chorus - 20'
Missa Resurrectionis (1994)
solo soprano - 14'
Chamber
Prelude et Fugue (1983)
bassoon quartet - 7'
Divertimento (1987)
For guitar quartet
fp. 24 March 1988, Mont-de-Marsan. Quator guitares des Landes.
Sextuor (1988)
piano & string quintet - 15'
Glenalmond Suite (2007)
organ solo - 10'
Capriccio (2005)
violin & organ - 7'
Suite Rhapsodique (2002)
horn & organ - 15'
Dumia (2001)
piano solo - 2'
Agapê (2001)
solo organ - 11'
Commissioned by John Roberts, 1 June 2002.
First performed by Jon Roberts, 16 June 2002, Royster Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
Te Deum (1997)
solo organ - 10'
Bagatelle (1997)
solo organ - 6'
Chant de Joie (1997)
solo organ - 10'
Sinfonia in Honore Sancti Ioannis Baptistæ (1996)
solo organ - 10'
Canticum (1995)
solo organ - 7'
Sonata for Trumpet and Organ (1994)
trumpet, organ - 15'
Mariales (1993)
solo organ - 8'
Le Tombeau d'Olivier Messiaen (1993)
solo organ - 20'
Rhapsody (1992)
Organ Duet - 10'
Variations on Two Themes (1991)
solo organ - 10'
Rubaiyat (1990)
solo organ - 20'
Memor (1989)
solo organ - 11'
Duo Concertant (1988)
organ & piano - 15'
Rondo for Christmas (1988)
trumpet & organ - 6'
Petite Suite (1983)
solo organ - 8'
Cosmogonie (1983)
solo organ
Books
The Improvisation Companion
Guide Practique d'Improvisation
(French language version of The Improvisation Companion)
Works published in France
available in the UK from UMP
Choral
Saul de Tarse (1991)
oratorio for soloists, chorus & orchestra - 30' (published: LEDUC)
Hymne au Sacré-Coeur (1993) 7 trumpets & organ - 7' (published: LEDUC)
Old Hundredth (1987)
organ & brass 1987 - 5' (published: LEDUC)
Solo & Duo