03/22/2026
Urho Talks is back this year with an exciting conversation on the Syriac Orthodox musical tradition! Join us on Saturday, March 28 at 10:30am EST/9:00pm IST.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ: ๐๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ญ
Malphono Dr. Gabriel Aydin discusses with Shamosho Martin Saji about the Syriac Hymnal, a project initiated by Dr Aydin with the Syriac Music Institute to be used as a resource (now available in the App Store) that meticulously documents the traditions of ancient Syriac chants of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. This Hymnal uses Western Notation along with notational adjustments to accurately reflect the uniqueness of Syriac Chant that can now reach a broader audience and showcases the esteemed oral traditions of various centers of Syriac Orthodoxy. Dr. Aydin here discusses the history of Syriac Chant and his process in the creation of this hymnal.
โฉ You can submit your questions for Dr. Aydin in the comments or send us a message.
๐ ๐ผ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐จ๐ฉ๐จ
Dr. Gabriel Aydin is a prominent musicologist and expert in Syriac Orthodox chant, dedicated to bridging ancient oral traditions with modern academic scholarship. He was raised in Tur โAbdin immersed in traditional seminaries and monasteries mastering classical Syriac and liturgical music. Holds a Masterโs from Yale and a Doctorate from USEK (Lebanon), specializing in the comparative analysis and transcription of regional chant traditions. In 2007, he founded the Syriac Music Institute in Rhode Island to preserve Syriac chant traditions. He published โThe Syriac Hymnalโ (2018), a landmark resource that provides English translation and specialized musical notations for the โeight modesโ of the Syriac Orthodox Church, effectively transforming a largely oral, regional tradition into a globally accessible documented musical system. He also led the development of the Syriac Hymnal App (2025), a digital platform that provides access to Syriac liturgical hymns with texts, translations, musical notation, and audio recordings.
Dn. Martin Saji is native to New York and from the Syriac Orthodox Church (Malankara Archdiocese). He holds two degrees in Music, is a classical pianist, a music educator, and is currently a seminarian studying Sacred Arts.
