Hanna Petros

Hanna Petros (, ) (1896 – 1958) was an Iraqi composer and a scholar. He wrote numerous books and treatises on oriental music, Iraqi Maqams and Syriac hymnody, and established a renowned conservatory in Baghdad. He is well known for creating the first musical records in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic and for pioneering musical performance and composition in Iraq.

Life and career 1921 photo showing Hanna Petros at the Chaldean School in Mosul. He is sitting fourth from the left. Hanna Petros was an ethnic Assyrian, born to a Chaldean Catholic family in Mosul in 1896. He subsequently worked as an instructor for scouting groups in Mosul in 1921, where he would also compose an anthem for the city. Later in 1924, he was asked to compose music for the Iraqi army's marching bands, and the following year, he would begin teaching music in Baghdad. The first record contained Assyrian nationalist songs while the second contained Syriac sacral hymns.

In 1936, Petros was asked to establish the Baghdad Conservatory He was also fluent in Arabic, Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, French, Turkish, and English. Geyassa (Hymn, 1931) Baydagh d-Ature (National Song, 1931) Bmani Mnawnakh (National Song, 1931)''