Interviews and Performances - Video List
AP 60 to 51

Lonappan Arackal and team in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal.

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AP 51 - Lonappan Arackal and team in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal.
Call Number

AP 51

Part Number Part I - Syro Malabar Church
Title Lonappan Arackal and team in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal.
Duration 36:32
Place of Recording St. John Nepomucene Church, Konthuruthy, Ernakulam.
Date of Recording 16 July 2013.
Youtube URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbT1bBNqjp8
Video Segment (s)

AP 51 a to 51o

Notes

Lonappan Arackal and team in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal.

NOTE: The melodies and memories that Mr. Lonappan Arackal shares with us in this video are significant because he is a member of the transitional generation that saw the transference of the Syro Malabar liturgy from Syriac to Malayalam (July 3,1962). Lonappan has been a church musician for the last 53 years. He learned the melodies from his father and grandfather who, too, were choir leaders. Thus, we have here a musical link to a melodic tradition that is older than a century.

Lonappan sings from memory without the aid of printed books. He showed his private collection of Syriac song books that he has been safeguarding carefully. We hope to digitalize those books and make them available for researchers as soon as funds are available. Lonappan’s vivid recollection of the dramatic musical transition from the solemn to the requiem mode in the middle of Mass on Pesaha (passover/Holy/Maundy) Thursday is precious. But for this segment we wouldn’t have known such a practice existed in the Syro Malabar Liturgy.Lonappan sings four different melodies of Quryēlaisōn (Kyrie Eleison). Probably, all these melodies were composed in Kerala, after the Synod of Diamper (1599), when the Portuguese missionaries introduced many Roman-rite rituals in the Chaldean (East Syriac) liturgy of the Syro Malabar Church. Surprisingly, Lonappan sings a Syriac hymn to the Patron saint of the parish set to the meter and melody of another popular Syriac Chant, “Bar Maryam.”In this case, Bar Maryam serves as a model melody. He has also given us a second melody for the post-communion Hymn, “Maran Iso” for solemn occasions. Overall, the contents in this video hint at several topics for further research in the history of music in Kerala…… Joseph J. Palackal

01. Melody of “Śambah leśān” from Benediction. Syriac translation of Tantum Ergo For Benediction (1:11) J. Lonappan John Arackal (vocal, harmonium), Siji Joseph (violin), A.J. Jose Arackal (triangle), Liju Chackappan ( Drum)
02. Melody of “kollan dasne” from Benediction. Syriac translation of Tantum Ergo (2:08)
03. Chanting of the slotha (prayer) from Benediction. Fr. Augustus Thekkanath, CMI (4;00)
04. Reenactment of Holy Holy Holy on Pesaha (Passover/Maundy/Holy) Thursday (before 1962). (5:48)
05. Melody of “m’samsana Daweed” for elevation during qurbana on Pesaha Thursday (10:17)
06. Melody of “Rahme Suqaanaa” from the rite of reconciliation during Qurbana on Pesaha Thursday. (11:08)
07. Melody of “Rahme Suqaanaa” in the solemn manner (11:47)
08. Melody of “maran Iso” after communion (12:40)
09. Reference to the Malayalam version of Maran Iso (13:08)
10. Melody of “Maran Iso” for Solemn Qurbana. Rhythm: 1 2 + 1 2 3 4 = 6 beats (13:19)
11. “Hā qēs slīwā” veneration of the Cross on Good Friday. The text is sung in three ascending pitch registers, while progressively uncovering the Cross. Fr. Augustus Thekkanath, CMI assisted by Lonappan Arackal. (15:35)
12. Melody of Huthamma final blessing from Requiem mass. Fr. Augustus Thekkanath CMI (19:21)
13. Melody 1 of Quryēlaisōn (Kyrie Eleison) (Syriac translation of the Latin litany) (21:54)
14. Melody 2 of Quryēlaisōn (Kyrie Eleison). Rhythm: 1 2 + 12 35 = 6 beats (25:01)
15. Melody 3 of Quryēlaisōn (Kyrie Eleison). Rhythm: 1 2 3 + 1 2 3 4 = 7 beats (25:48)
16. Melody 4 of Quryēlaisōn (Kyrie Eleison). (27:05)
17. Melody of “Slīwā dahwā lan” sung when the festival procession reaches the open-air Cross (32:22)
18. Hymn in honor of St. John Nepomucene to the melody of ’’Bar Maryam.’ (33:50)

Video Segments

  • AP 51a - "Śambah leśān" Syriac translation of Tantum Ergo by Thomas Aquinas.
  • AP 51b - Melody of "Kollan Dasne" From Syriac Translation Of the Benediction hymn Tantum Ergo.
  • AP 51c - Reenactment of Holy Holy Holy On Pesaha Thursday before 1962.
  • AP 51d - Melody of M'Samsana Daweed For Elevation During Qurbana On Pesaha Thursday.
  • AP 51e - Melody of "Rahme Suqaanaa" Rite of Reconciliation on Pesaha Thursday .
  • AP 51f - Melody of "Maran Iso" After Communion.
  • AP 51g - Melody of "Maran Iso" For solemn occasions.
  • AP 51h - Melody 1 of Quryēlaisōn (Kyrie Eleison): Syriac translation of Latin Litany.
  • AP 51i - Melody 2 of Quryēlaisōn (Kyrie Eleison): Syriac translation of Latin Litany.
  • AP 51j - Melody 3 of Quryēlaisōn (Kyrie Eleison): Syriac translation of Latin Litany.
  • AP 51k - Melody 4 of Quryēlaisōn (Kyrie Eleison): Syriac translation of Latin Litany.
  • AP 51l - Slīwā dahwā lan Sung When The Festival Procession Reaches The Open air Cross.
  • AP 51m - Hymn in honor of St John Nepomucene to the melody of ’Bar Maryam.
  • AP 51n - Fr. Augustus Thekkanath, C.M.I. sings "Hā qēs slīwā". Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday, assisted by Lonappan Arackal
  • AP 51o - Fr.Augustus Thekkanath, C.M.I. sings the final blessing in the requiem mass in Syriac assisted by Lonappan Arackal.

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