No! Do you have a link where I can hear it or, better yet, purchase it? I have compiled a fairly extensive collection of Maronite sacred music. GG, the more I listen to it the more I begin to assimilate the music and mimic the vocals. Wish I could learn Arabic!
Oh Fairuz singing the Good Friday hymns!!! There is nothing so moving, absolutely nothing.
This link is on the Copticchurch.net, but it is merely hosted there. Many Copts love Maronite chants and hymns I am told:
The Lebanese dialect of Arabic is very different from that used by other Middle Eastern countries. As you've no doubt noticed, there is a very obvious French flavor to it. IMHO, that influence makes the language especially pleasant. I enjoy the sounds. (But I've often wondered if it is simply my own personal bias here). I am delighted to see that non-Maronites and non-Lebanese like it too. As you've probably also picked up, NYer, music (and dance too) plays a big part in Maronite culture. It's part of village life. One traditional village pastime is composing songs together in a group as a sort of competition. I'll try to dig up more info on the Fairuz recordings...