The death of the Lebanese musician Elias Rahbani
Elias Rahbani.
Photography: Mustafa Qasimi
Lebanese media reported the death of Lebanese musician Elias Rahbani today.
The deceased was born in 1938, and he is the younger brother of the late two brothers, Asi and Mansour Rahbani.
Rahbani studied music at the Lebanese Academy (1945-1958) and the National Institute of Music (1955-1956), in addition to receiving private lessons for ten years, under the supervision of French professors in music.
He loved music after he got to know it through his two brothers, Assi and Mansour Rahbani (the two Rahbani brothers), who were older than him.
At the age of nineteen (1957), he wanted to go to Russia to complete his studies, but an injury to his right hand prevented him from doing so.
The fading dream was a great shock to him.
His teacher has given up on his education.
But determined to follow with his left hand, he turned his attention to the field of musical composition.
At the age of twenty (1958), he was summoned by the British BBC radio station in Lebanon and contracted with him to compose 40 songs and 13 programs. This was his first official job for a wage of 3,900 Lebanese pounds.
The year 1962 was a major milestone in his life.
He started collaborating with well-known singers, with the song "Ma Ahlaha" by Nasri Shams El Din, and began working as a director and music consultant in Radio Lebanon, and he got to know his girlfriend, Nina Khalil, and married her.
He remained at Radio Lebanon until 1972, and he also worked as a music producer for companies that produce records [?].
In 1976 he traveled with his family to Paris.
He presented hundreds of musical works to the world, which contributed to the richness and sophistication of Arab arts during the twentieth century.
He received many prizes, including: a prize for a youth competition in classical music in 1964, a prize for the piece La Guerre Est Finie at the Athens Festival in 1970, a certificate in cinema at the International Festival of Advertising Film in Venice in 1977, a second prize at the London International Advertising Festival in 1995, First prize in Rostock, Germany, for the song Mory, and awards in Brazil, Greece and Bulgaria.
In 2000, Barrington University in Washington honored him with an honorary doctorate, as well as the University of Asturias in Spain.
Was appointed Dean of the Rotana Academy for Teaching Singing, when it was founded in 2004;
But he resigned from it after a short period, with the justification that decisions were taken without consulting him.
In the same year, the song “Challenge the World” was released by the singer Saber Al-Rubai;
Elias objected to the composer of the melody, Khaled Al-Bakri and the producer, Rotana, that it resembles in its melodic sentences some of his melodies, especially the tune of "Nina Maria" which he composed in the 1970s
But they did not accept to negotiate with him.
This led to a lawsuit filed against the composer and the company in the Lebanese judiciary for property rights, and a specialized technical investigation was conducted by the Listening Committee of the Society of Authors and Composers, and Ilias won the case with a ruling compelling the company to withdraw the album from the market and add his name to it.
Was an honorary member of Season 10 and 11 of Star Academy (to comment on the performance);
He was previously a member of the judging panel for the Super Star (Arab Idol) show.
It is reported that Ilyas and his wife Nina had two sons: Ghassan and Gad.
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