Naji Hakim


Naji Subhy Paul Irénée Hakim is a Franco-Lebanese organist, composer, and improviser.
He studied the organ under Jean Langlais at the Conservatoire de Paris, and succeeded Olivier Messiaen as titular organist at the Église de la Sainte-Trinité, Paris, holding this position from 1993 to 2008. Before this, he was titular organist at the Sacré-Cœur basilica in the same city from 1985 to 1993, succeeding Daniel Roth.
Hakim's numerous improvisations and compositions for organ, orchestra, and other instruments have received renown. His works have been published by Schott Music, UMP, Combre, Éditions Alphonse Leduc, ABRSM, Fitzsimons, Éditions Gérard Billaudot, and American Carillon.
WWW najihakim.com

Biography

Youth: 1955–1972

Naji Subhy Paul Irénée Hakim was born into a Catholic family on 31 October 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon; to a businessman father, Subhy, and his wife Katy Hakim. His Christian name is Paul.
His family were music-loving: his father played the mandolin and sang; his mother is an amateur pianist, and he and his three siblings also studied a variety of instruments of different types. Before the organ, Hakim studied the cello.
When he was five, he heard a pipe organ in his school, the Collège du Sacré-Coeur of Beirut. The instrument was built by Debierre-Gloton. Impressed by its sound, Hakim asked his mother two years later to get him a piano, to which she obliged. From then on, Hakim received his first piano lessons from his mother, who self-taught.
His brother, Amine, noticed the then-9 year old Hakim's enthusiasm for the organ and helped him break into the organ loft at the college. Naji was able to pull out all of the organ's stops before playing a single note. Frightened by the sound, the two brothers ran away. The school director took notice of the incident and ordered for the loft to be re-secured.
Hakim, who received permission to practise for half an hour every week, then taught himself the organ by using the method books of Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens, Harold Gleason and Marcel Dupré. He would later give his first recital in this chapel aged 15. A year later, he would later master the third of Dupré's Trois préludes et fugues, op. 7, and César Franck's First Chorale in E major.

Studies: 1972–1980

Many had noticed the young man's prodigiousness in the organ and talent for music, however, due to the prompting of his father, Hakim, aged 16, entered the Ecole Supérieure d'Ingénieurs de Beyrouth in 1972. He was advised that a musical career in Lebanon would have not been suitable by the present circumstances. The outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975, which caused the closure of his engineering school, forced him to flee to Paris in autumn of that year, where he completed his studies at Télécom in 1977.
He also took up a position as substitute organist at Sainte-Odile in Paris and prepared to enter the Conservatoire de Paris, failing the entrance examinations in 1976. Hakim then met Jean Langlais, organist of Sainte-Clotilde and an esteemed composer and organist, and began private lessons in organ playing and improvisation with him in a relationship that lasted about ten years. With his newfound friendship and encouragement, he was able to enter the conservatoire the following year; where he obtained seven first prizes in organ performance, organ improvisation, harmony, counterpoint, fugue, analysis, and orchestration.
Hakim was in the classes of Rolande Falcinelli, Roger Boutry, Jean-Claude Henry, Marcel Bitsch, Jacques Castérède and Serge Nigg ; as well as that of Langlais himself.

Professional career: 1980–2019

He was appointed as titular organist of the Sacré-Cœur, Paris in 1985, succeeding Daniel Roth. He left in 1993 when he succeeded Olivier Messiaen after the latter's death at the Église de la Sainte-Trinité, Paris, from 1993 until 2008. He serves as Professor of Musical Analysis at the Conservatoire National de Région de Boulogne-Billancourt, and visiting professor of organ, improvisation, analysis, and composition at the Royal Academy of Music, London.
Hakim's compositional output includes instrumental music, symphonic music, and choral music. His works for the organ includes more than three dozen solo pieces, a number of works for organ and other instruments, and four organ concertos with orchestra.

Present day: 2019–

Despite retiring from the academic scene, Hakim remains an active professional concert organist today.

Awards

Hakim has won many awards for performance, improvisation, and composition. For example, his Symphonie en trois mouvements won the composition prize of the "Amis de l'Orgue" in 1984. The Embrace of Fire won first prize in 1986 in the International Organ Competition in memory of Anton Heiller, at Southern Missionary College in Collegedale, Tennessee. In addition, he was awarded the Prix de Composition Musicale André Caplet from the Académie des Beaux Arts in 1991. He has also been the recipient of prizes at the International Organ Competitions held in Beauvaiss, Haarlem, Lyon, Nuremberg, St. Albans, Chartres, Strasbourg, and Rennes.

Personal life

He currently lives in Bayonne with his wife Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet, annually visits his homeland of Lebanon, and composes regularly.
They have two children, Jean-Paul, who has followed in his footsteps as a composer, and Katia-Sofia, a musicologist and poet.
Hakim is a polyglot and speaks six languages: French, Arabic, English, Basque, Spanish, and German.

Music

Hakim began composing in 1983.

Organ solo

Cosmogonie Petite suite Symphonie en Trois Mouvements The Embrace of Fire: Triptyque Hommage à Igor Stravinsky. Triptyque Expressions Memor Rubaiyat Variations on two themes: "Old hundredth" & "Donne secours" Rhapsody for organ duo Mariales
  • * Incantation
  • * Pastorale
  • * Antienne
  • * Hymne
  • * DanseLe Tombeau d'Olivier Messiaen: Trois Méditations symphoniques Vexilla regis prodeunt Canticum Sinfonia in honore Sancti Ioannis Baptistæ Pange lingua
  • * Pange lingua
  • * Nobis datus
  • * In supremœ nocte cœnœ
  • * Verbum caro
  • * Tantum ergo
  • * Genitori, genitoqueTe Deum Bagatelle Chant de Joie The Last Judgment Quatre Études-Caprices for pedal solo Gershwinesca In Organo, Chordis et Choro Le Bien-aimé: Suite symphonique
  • * 1. J'ai trouvé celui que mon cœur aime
  • * 2. Notre joie et notre allégresse
  • * 3. Viens, mon Bien-Aimé
  • * 4. Avant que souffle la brise du jour
  • * 5. Son aspect est celui du Liban, sans rival, comme les cèdres
  • * 6. Ses traits sont des traits de feu
  • * 7. Voici qu'il arrive sautant sur les montagnes, bondissant sur les collinesOuverture Libanaise Agapê Bach'orama: Organ Fantasia on themes by Johann Sebastian Bach Gregoriana Salve Regina Sakskøbing præludier
  • * 1. Mit hjerte altid vanker
  • * 2. Nærmere, Gud, til dig
  • * 3. O Gud, du ved og kender
  • * 4. At sige verden ret farvel
  • * 5. Hil dig, Frelser og Forsoner!
  • * 6. Den mørke nat forgangen er
  • * 7. Nu blomstertiden kommer
  • * 8. Påskeblomst!
  • * 9. Op, al den ting, som Gud har gjort
  • * 10. O kristelighed!
  • * 11. Så vældigt det mødte os først i vor dåb
  • * 12. Befal du dine veje Mit seinem Geist: Variations on "Ein feste Burg" Aalaiki'ssalaam: Variations on a Lebanese theme Esquisses Grégoriennes en forme de Messe basse
  • * 1. Nos autem
  • * 2. Ave maris stella
  • * 3. Pater noster
  • * 4. Ave verum
  • * 5. O filii et filiae Hommage à Jean Langlais Glenalmond Suite
  • * 1. Strømmende
  • * 2. Favnende
  • * 3. Smilende
  • * 4. JublendeTo call my true love to my dance
  • * 1. Theme
  • * 2. Cantabile
  • * 3. Valse
  • * 4. Deciso
  • * 5. Arabesque
  • * 6. Burletta
  • * 7. Tango
  • * 8. Scherzando
  • * 9. Berceuse
  • * 10. FinaleAll my founts shall be within you I Love The Colourful World :
  • * 1. Präludium
  • * 2. Tanz-ToccataArabesques :
  • * 1. Prélude
  • * 2. Pastorale
  • * 3. Libanaise
  • * 4. Arabesque
  • * 5. Litanie
  • * 6. RondeauAmazing Grace for organ
  • Ein Haus voll Glorie schauet, variations on the hymn "Ein Haus voll Glorie schauet", 2017

Organ with other instruments

Old Hundredth for brass and organ Fantaisie sur "Adeste, Fideles" with 2nd organ ad libitum Duo Concertant for organ and piano Rondo for Christmas for trumpet and organ Hymne au Sacré-Cœur for 7 trumpets and organ Sonate for trumpet and organ Suite Rhapsodique for horn and organ Capriccio for violin and organ Variations on "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" for oboe and organ
  • '''Sindbad, Fantasy on Omani Popular Songs'''

Orchestral and concertos

Fantaisie Celtique for piano and orchestra Concerto for organ and strings Les Noces de l'Agneau: Trois tableaux symphoniques for orchestra Hymne de l'Univers for orchestra Seattle Concerto for organ and orchestra Concerto for violin and orchestra Concerto No. 3 for organ and string orchestra Ouverture Libanaise for orchestra Sakskøbing præludier for chamber ensemble
  • * 1. Mit hjerte altid vanker
  • * 2. Nærmere, Gud, til dig
  • * 3. O Gud, du ved og kender
  • * 4. At sige verden ret farvel
  • * 5. Hil dig, Frelser og Forsoner!
  • * 6. Den mørke nat forgangen er
  • * 7. Nu blomstertiden kommer
  • * 8. Påskeblomst!
  • * 9. Op, al den ting, som Gud har gjort
  • * 10. O kristelighed!
  • * 11. Så vældigt det mødte os først i vor dåb
  • * 12. Befal du dine veje Påskeblomst for string orchestra Concerto No. 4 for organ and chamber ensemble ''"Det strømmende og uudslukkelige..."''

Other instruments and chamber music

Prélude et Fugue for bassoon quartet Shasta: Suite for harpsichord Divertimento for guitar quartet Jeu for harp solo Sonate for violin solo Caprice en Rondeau for flute and piano Sonate for violin and piano Dumia for piano solo Ouverture Libanaise for piano solo Påskeblomst for string quartet Kammerconcert "Solen skinner altid på Beirut" for flute, clarinet, bassoon, harp, piano, violin, viola and cello Glenalmond Suite for piano solo
  • * 1. Strømmende
  • * 2. Favnende
  • * 3. Smilende
  • * 4. JublendeHymne til Alberto Giacomettis Kvinde på Kærre for carillon

Vocal works

Saul de Tarse: Oratorio for choir, soloists and orchestra Missa resurrectionis for soprano solo Missa redemptionis for SATB choir a capella Phèdre: Cantata for mezzo-soprano and piano Children for SATB choir a capella Messe Solennelle for choir and organ Magnificat for soprano, violin and organ Gloria for choir and organ Ave maris stella for choir and organ Phèdre for mezzo-soprano and orchestra The Dove for tenor and string quartet The Dove for tenor and organ The Dove for tenor and string orchestra Jesu Redemptor omnium for choir, brass quintet, timpani and percussion Det strømmende: Canon Magnificat for three treble voices and organ Nunc dimittis for three treble voices and organ Magnificat for soprano and organ Verbum caro factum est for three treble voices and organ The Angel Cried for SATB choir and congregation Set Me As A Seal Upon Your Heart for SATB choir a cappella Amazing Grace for soprano and organ

Discography

  • Naji Hakim plays Naji Hakim, Signum Records.,
  • Naji Hakim : Seattle Concerto for organ, Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet, organ; Seattle Symphony Orchestra dir. Gerard Schwarz, Ifo Records.
  • Naji Hakim : Piano works, Nicolas Chevereau, piano, Rejoyce Classique.