Bible Theme Music
From SPARK
Impact Story
Brief Summary
A childhood dream comes true as father and son work together to mix original musical compositions with the reading of the entire New Testament in Arabic. Learn how the composer used the Triton Workstation, and how the Lord is using this material in the Middle East. Listen to samples of the beautiful music by clicking on the downloads.
Introduction
My name is Samir Hashweh. I am a British citizen of Jordanian origin. Having lived in London, England for nineteen years, I now reside with my wife in Amman, Jordan. I have had a very keen interest in music since a child. From the age of five, I began playing the piano. Over the years, my gifting in music became apparent. I began serving the Lord in worship services and meetings in London and occasionally the Middle East. The Lord birthed in me a desire to glorify Him through music, and this passion grew more intensely over time. Little did I know of the plans the Lord had in mind!
What was done
It was in January of 2003 while on a Discipleship Training School (DTS) ministry trip in Lebanon that the Lord so graciously opened a door for me to work with the International Bible Society (with their regional office in Cairo). The project called the ’New Testament’ project was to be undertaken by my father, Victor Hashweh, and myself. His task was to read the entire New Testament in Arabic (using the NIV translation) in dramatized style while I was to compose the background music. The result would be an audio Bible.
I never knew that dreams come true until a project of this magnitude was launched! Since my childhood, I have dreamed of composing music for the Lord’s glory; I always had the desire to produce movie-type soundtracks to Biblical themes such as the Rapture, the Resurrection, Judgment Day, the Second Coming, etc. When the Lord opened this door for me to start composing music for the entire New Testament, two verses immediately came to mind. The first from Psalms 37:4: "Seek your happiness in the Lord and He will grant you the desires of your heart." I realised that the Lord was showing me how much He cared and that He knew what was in my heart. The project was a means to release the God-given desires He had planted in my heart from an early age and glorify His Name through music!
The second verse was from Ephesians 3:20: "And to Him who by means of His power at work in you is able to do exceedingly abundantly, far above all that you can ever ask or think". Indeed, I never expected that I would be composing music from Matthew through Revelation!!
The New Testament project began in April 2003 and was completed in March 2006 I have attempted to compose customized music to each chapter of the New Testament, the total being 260 chapters. By God’s grace, I have kept the compositions original. Thanks to Korg’s Triton Music Workstation, I have been able to use a 16-track sequencer, a huge variety of orchestral sounds and a built-in CD writer to produce the needed material!
How it was done
Listen to Audio SamplesSample reading in Arabic with musicSample Psalms 3 musicSample Mat, Act, Cor and Rev music |
First, my father’s reading of a number of chapters in Arabic was recorded in a studio onto CD. Then I would read the same chapters in the NIV Bible and begin to ’imagine’ how the music would need to sound in order to reflect the reading. I would start with a simple melody on the 16-track sequencer and gradually ’build’ the music. A specific tempo on the Triton workstation would be selected for each chapter.
Once the initial melody and tempo were finalised, I would begin the CD playback and simultaneously start the sequencer playback; while the reading was in progress and the sequencer played back, I would start to write the measure numbers (indicated on the sequencer measure display) on the corresponding chapter in the Bible. The result would be a sequence of numbers written above the words of the chapter that were being read. This would enable me to know, from the measure numbers, where exactly the music would need to change and what kind of music was suited for the specific themes within the chapter.
Upon completion of the composition for a number of chapters, for example Matthew 1-10, the music is burned onto CD using Korg’s internal CD writer. The final music CD is then imported as an audio file into mixing software on computer called ’Wavelab’ from which the mixing is implemented between the narration and the music. Once the process has been completed, the final master CDs are sent by mail to the International Bible Society in Cairo, Egypt, for copying and distribution to Middle Eastern countries.
Results
The New Testament project is now being distributed by the International Bible Society to the Middle East region and is aimed at the vast majority of non-believers. The New Testament is also being broadcast daily on Trans World Radio for listeners in the Middle East. In addition, the entire project has been downloaded on the Trans World Radio website www.arabicprograms.org where the reading with the music can be heard.
On an annual basis, the International Bible Society distributes the New Testament audio tapes in Cairo’s renowned ’Cairo Book Fair’ which receives millions of international visitors. This year, in 2007, they hope to distribute 5,000 copies in order to reach as many as possible with the gospel.
It has indeed been a journey through the New Testament for me as I have attempted to interpret Scripture musically. It has definitely been a great personal Bible study as well and has strengthened my walk with the Lord.
New Projects
In June 2006, I began a new ’Psalms/Proverbs’ project. My father reads the Scripture in Arabic and I compose customised music to accompany the text (as was done in the New Testament project). My aim is to compose even more powerful and dynamic music than I did in the previous project. My desire is constantly to glorify the Lord and to have an impact on listeners. I believe the anointed Word of God combined with music will impact the listeners’ mind and emotions simultaneously.
I pray that in the future the Lord will continue to open doors for similar projects as these so His Name can be glorified more and that more multitudes will come to a saving knowledge of Christ.
- By Samir Hashweh
- January 2007
- E-mail: s_hashweh@yahoo.com
Feedback from listeners
Hey Samir,
.... I love your work and the Spirit that is in your music. May God bless your work more and more.
Well done.
(Jordan)
Samir,
Many thanks for this sample of your work. I have been playing it as I have been working this morning.
Have you thought of producing a CD of your work? It would be great to have the Scriptures read in English with this as a background as well. If your work is under contract this may not be possible or there may be royalties. Just an idea.
Best wishes
(Australia)
Dear Samir
I have been wondering how you are and I was thrilled to hear that you have finished the project on which you have been working. The little bit of the music that I have heard (remember you sent me an excerpt?) I thought [it] was something I really enjoyed and wished that I could have heard more…
Praise God for the music that you have been able to contribute to the presentation of the New Testament. I continue to pray that the Lord will undertake for you now and in all that the future holds.
Every blessing
(Australia)
Dear Samir,
It was so good to have your email. The Lord is certainly opening up exciting and productive doors for your music talents.
To have the Scriptures in the Arabic language and to the accompaniment of your gifted music will, I am sure, lead many to faith in Christ.
I want to encourage you to go on in His will and way, and only He knows what it will ultimately lead to.
Please keep in touch with developments.
We will remember you and your dear wife in prayer.
Blessings.
(England)
Dear Samir,
...I listened to the CD on Eph 1-6 It was beautiful!! Our Lord has certainly gifted you with the opportunity to express your gift in such a wonderful way. I praise the Lord with you. Hopefully someday you’ll be able to use the same music in an English version of the Bible. Please let me know when that happens.
(U.S.A.)
Dear Samir…
Thank you so much for sending me Music Sampler. I listened to it many
times. It was wonderful! Praise God for gifting you to create it…
(U.S.A.)
Dear Samir,
What a great letter from you. We were so blessed to read of the completion of the N.T. project. I don’t think I know of anyone more gifted in composing and playing the piano than you, and I am sure the joint venture with your father made it a very special ministry. Someday we hope to hear it!!...
(U.S.A.)
