Lahn
Lahn (plural alhan) is an Arabic term used in Coptic worship for a recognized melody or melody type assigned to a liturgical text.[^1]
Also known as: Alhan
Definition
Lahn (plural alhan) is an Arabic term used in Coptic liturgical books and manuscripts to specify the music to which a text is sung. It denotes a recognizable melody or melody type with a particular, often descriptive, name.1
English renderings include “air,” “tone,” “melody,” and “mode,” although these do not fully convey the term’s meaning. It is the Arabic translation of a Coptic term adopted from Greek echos; possible affinities with Byzantine echos and Arabic maqam remain to be elucidated.12
Liturgical use
Some alhan, designated sanawiyyah (“annual”), are sung throughout the year, while others are reserved for a particular occasion. One text may be sung to different alhan, and one lahn may carry different texts. A lahn may also have short (qasir), abridged (mukhtasar), and long (tawil) forms.3
Examples
Descriptive names include Lahn al-Farah, “of joy,” and Lahn al-Huzn, “of sorrow.” Adam and Watus, also called Batos, are two leading melody types.14
A particular example is Lahn Idribi, performed during the Sixth Hour on Good Friday. Its text is the Psalm versicle preceding the Gospel reading, and it is consequently also called Mazmur Idribi, “Psalm Idribi.”4
References
Sources
- 1.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 184)
LAHN (plural alhan), Arabic translation of Coptic /,oc, adopted from Greek ekhos, a term used in Coptic liturgical books and manuscripts to specify the music to be sung to a given text. Sometimes translated into English as "air," "tone," "melody," or "mode," it refers basically to either a certain melody or melody type that is readily recognized by the people and known by a specific, often descriptive name, such as Lahn al-Farah (. . . of joy) and Lahn al-Huzn (. . . of sorrow). Two leading Alhan to be cited as melody types are ADAM and WATUS. Lahn may have some affinities yet to be elucidated
- 2.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 6 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 77)
Western scholars have translated lahn as “tone,” “air,” and/or “melody,” but none of these words conveys its full meaning.
- 3.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 6 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 78)
Some, designated sanawiyyah (annual), are sung throughout the year, whereas others may be reserved for one occasion only. The same text may be sung to different alhan, and conversely, the same lahn may have different texts. Furthermore, the same lahn may have three forms: short (qasir), abridged (mukhtasar), and long (tawil).
- 4.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 6 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 78)
Among many beautiful alhan, the sorrowful lahn Idribi may be cited as one of the most eloquent. Performed on Good Friday, during the Sixth Hour, it expresses vividly the tragedy of the Crucifixion. Its text being the Psalm versicle preceding the Gospel lection, it is also called Mazmur Idribi (Psalm Idribi). ... The two melody types most frequently named are Adam and Batos (Arabic: ADAM and WATUS).
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This article was drafted from the sources listed above with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor before publication.