Yared

Additionally, he composed Zema, or the chant tradition of Ethiopia, particularly the chants of the Ethiopian-Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches, which are still performed today. According to the medieval chronicle The Gadla Yared (Acts of Yared), Yared was born in Axum. Yared then went to his uncle birthplace in Murade Qal. He saw a worm trying to climb tree with numerous attempts until the last moment. The worm struggle had inspire him and pursue to read and study Holy Scriptures. He became a priest at Church of Our Lady, Mary of Zion, then attracted to the Aksum king Gebre Meskel. He developed musical notation, including Zema or Ethiopian chant as well as authoring the famous Book of Deggua. At the age of 66, Yared died in Semien Mountains during journey of tutoring. He is regarded as a saint of the Ethiopian-Eritrean Orthodox Church, with his feast day celebrated on 19 May. His name is from the Biblical person known in English as "Jared" (Book of Genesis 5:15).

• Honorific Prefix — Saint • Name — Yared • Titles — Composer • Born — 505 04 25 • Birthplace — Axum, Kingdom of Aksum • Died — 571 5 20 • Place of death — Semien Mountains • Feast Day — 19 May • Attributes — Old man wearing traditional attire and holding walking stick (mequamia), tsenatsel in front of Deggua book and three chants: Ge'ez, Ezel and Araray depicted as doves • Venerated In — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church Ethiopian Catholic Church Eritrean Catholic Church

Much of Yared's life is broadly accounted in the medieval hagiography The Gadla Yared (Acts of Yared), whose composition was recovered in the 16th century. Yared was born on 25 April 505 in Axum from his father Abyud (Isaac) and his mother Christina (Tawklia). • Illustration — Yared with disciples singing to King Gebre Meskel Yared was enticed by the Aksumite king Gebre Meskel, which led to his musical prominence, composing Zema, or chant. Following his musical success, he asked the king to live in ascetics, saying: Promise to grant me...allow me to retire from my work in the court and to live among the people so that I may devote the rest of my life to teaching, to meditation and to prayer. The king allowed his request and Yared travelled to Semien Mountains. He developed the Book of Deggua, (De'guaa) in Geʽez, which means "lamentations". Yared also played pivotal role in church building. For instance, he consecrated churches in Debre Damo that were founded by Abuna Aregawi. Yared also taught students at Tana Qirqos in Lake Tana. Yared also established churches in Gojjam, Begemder (today: Gondar), and Tigray. He went to Gayint and built a church called Saint Mariam at Zur Amba. The foundation is said to be as a result of "God's guide" and this location was named Zur Amba after "appearance of God to Aragawi". The account was written about God's appearance and guidance to Aragawi in Geʽez: "Zur Abba Mengale Misraq...." which means "...Abba, turn to the east; you will find the way to the hill."

St. Yared died at the age of 66 on 20 May 571 in a cave of Semien Mountains. He had been travelling to teach. 19 May is his feast day in the Orthodox Tewahedo Church in commemoration of his death.

Little known of the life of St. Yared outside the traditional account. St. Yared thought to gather his pupils to teach his musical system after asceticism in monastic life. He has been said to bequeath musical heir where the practice also revolutionised "a genealogy of masters from St. Yared in the 6th-century to Aleqa Mersha in the 20th-century". St. Yared's chant and voice are revered as powerful; his performance on liturgical music outstrips into secular domain, where "the remark [is] often made of a good singer; his voice makes one cry." His work has been contested to controversy by religious and secular discourse. Secular teaching argued that St. Yared is the base and father of secular music. The outlook of "secular music" is strongly objected to by the Orthodox Church. Other challenges are spiritual songs in audio and audiovisual form are possible without an original hymn. Without proper knowledge, some musicians prepare religious music and some singers take to secular form. The most contentious is the use of church treasures such as drum, sistrum, clothes and sticks currently used by Protestant followers. Some of St. Yared's songs like "Yekome Wereb", "Yetegulet Digua", "Yeankober Wereb", Yewashera Qine", Yeachabr Wereb", "Yeselelkula Kidase", "Ye Aba Giorgis" and "Ze Gasicha Seatat" are becoming obsolete or few scholars have no students.

Yared is recorded as musician and priest.