The Institute for Coptic Studies in Cairo houses a collection of over 600 magnetic tapes (30 to 90 minutes each) of Coptic Orthodox chants, recorded since the mid-20th century under the aegis of the Egyptian musicologist Ragheb Moftah, who mainly recorded the chants of the cantor Mikhail Girgis Al-Batanouni. As some of the tapes showed severe damage, the collection of recordings was digitally secured in 2009 with the financial support of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Foundation of Lower Saxony, as well as with the support of the German Embassy and the Orthodox Patriarchate in Cairo in cooperation with the Center for World Music.
Year of acquission | 2010 Handover of the digital copies to the CWM |
Collector | Institute of Coptic Studies (ICS), Cairo, Coptic Hymns and Music Department |
Material and number of items | Approx. 500 Audio tapes, focus on Coptic hymns |
State of collection | Completed. |
State of digitalisation | Completed. Admission possible on request |
Location | Physical: Institute of Coptic Studies (ICS), Cairo, Coptic Hymns and Music Department Digital: Center for World Music |
Project funds | For digitisation and indexing: Foundation of Lower Saxony and Cultural Preservation Programme of the Federal Foreign Office (2009/2010) |