Scope and Content Note
The Ragheb Moftah Collection of Coptic Orthodox Liturgical Chants and Hymns consists of transcriptions of Coptic chant music by Ernest Newlandsmith (compiled 1926-1936) and Margit Toth (begun 1970). Both contain transcriptions of the Liturgy of St. Basil. Marian Robertson Wilson created a guide to Moftah's audiotapes of Coptic chant music in 1996, which consists of transcriptions, transliterations and translations into English of the texts sung on the tapes. Wilson also devised a new order for the pieces on the tapes, putting them in a more logical order, as used in the context of the liturgy. The most important part of the correspondence consists of letters from Ernest Newlandsmith to Ragheb Moftah concerning their collaboration.
Writings in the collection consist of a paper written by Moftah, typescript, and an autobiography, in both manuscript and printed forms. There are notes about chant music written by Moftah. The collection contains articles written by Marian Robertson Wilson concerning Coptic chant music from the transcriptions Moftah contracted. Other materials include clippings, tickets, receipts, photographs, and a few legal papers.