AP 5a - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil sings Marayor paawe, a Tamil song in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, set to the tune of the Syriac chant Bar Maryam.

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"Marayor paawe,"
Tamil song in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary

set to the tune of the Syriac chant "Bar Maryam" (Son of Mary)
sung by K. O. Chacko Koyithadathil .

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AP 5a - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil sings "Marayor paawe," a Tamil song in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, set to the tune of the Syriac chant "Bar Maryam".
Call Number

AP 5A

Part Number Part I - Syro Malabar Church
Title Marayor paawe," a Tamil song in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary sung by K. O. Chacko Koythadathil.
Duration 4:33
Place of Recording Mr. Chacko's home at Kuruppamthara, Kottayam Dt., Kerala.
Date of Recording 13 October 2013
Youtube URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CoUySvERHE
Video Segment (s) AP 5a to 5q

Notes

Aramaic Project-Part 5A. K. O. Chacko Koythadathil in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal . "Marayor pawe," in Tamil, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, set to the tune of a famous Syriac chant, "Bar Mariam" (Son of Mary). Recorded at St. Thomas Church, Kuruppamthara, Kottayam Dt., Kerala. 12 July 2013.

At the end of a prolonged group recording session, I asked the singers if they knew any other songs, and Mr. Chacko said he knew a Tamil song. I became curious. It is rare that someone would sing a Christian song in Tamil in Kerala at the present time. Immediately after Mr. Chacko sang the first two phrases, I realized that the song was in the tune of the famous Syriac chant Bar Mariam ("Son of Mary") that used to be popular among Syro-Malabar Christians [an audio recording of Bar Mariam can be heard on track 25 in Qambel Māran It is yet to be verified if the Tamil song is a direct translation or an adaptation of the Syriac chant. Later, Chacko said that he learned it when he was a young boy from his father. The song was handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth, and has never appeared in writing. He said that he never sang it in the last sixty years, but the text was imprinted in his memory.

That the song is in Tamil is a historically significant matter. Until Malayalam became the language of Kerala by about the tenth century AD, Tamil was the literary and colloquial language of the people in the larger part of South India. Therefore, the bigger question in front of linguists and Indologists is whether the text of the song dates back to the tenth century, or even earlier. Both text and melody of the Syriac chant Bar Mariam is believed to have been originated in the Chaldean Church in Persia. The Tamil chant, however, might be a challenge to that belief. Maybe, the Syriac version is an adaptation of the Tamil version at some point in the history of the St. Thomas Christians.

The author of the Tamil text is unknown. The thematic and literary aspects of the text remain to be analyzed. Also, as of now, we do not know if Christians in Tamil Nadu are aware of this hymn. In any case, this is a musical treasure from India. Any information related to this hymn is welcome.

Dr. Joseph J. Palackal , CMI


Video Segments

  • AP 5b - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil sings "Ammaanaaewudes" for Good Friday. The hymn includes the Trisagion in Greek and Syriac.
  • AP 5c - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil, sings Trisagion in Greek and Syriac, for Good Friday.
  • AP 5d - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil, sings "Kadkrewmaaran," for the procession on Palm Sunday.
  • AP 5e - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil, sings "Aareemtharae" for the ceremonial opening of the church door, when the procession reaches the Church door.
  • AP 5f - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil, sings "Śambahleśān" which is sung during the Eucharistic procession on Holy Thursday.
  • AP 5g - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil, sings "TālākRuhā" the syriac translation of the Latin chant, Veni Creator Spiritus.
  • AP 5h - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil, sings "Laakalaaha" the Syriac translation of the Latin chant, Te Deum.
  • AP 5i - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil, sings "O Dazdamman" from the Raaza in the Syro Malabar liturgy.
  • AP 5j - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil sings "Ha ennaa," from Raaza of the Syro Malabar Church. Sung in three ascending pitch registers.
  • AP 5k - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil sings "K'saawaaramba".
  • AP 5l -K. O. Chacko Koythadathil sings "Maria Alaah"
  • AP 5m - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil sings "K'saawaaramba".
  • AP 5n - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil sings "Śambahl’māryā." Tune 1 of 3.
  • AP 5o - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil sings "Śambahl’māryā." Tune 3 of 3.
  • AP 5p - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil sings "Thuwaawulainaa." Tune 1 of 2. For rituals related to the commemoration of the dead: death anniversary, 40th day, etc.
  • AP 5q - K. O. Chacko Koythadathil sings "Thuwaawulainaa." Tune 2 of 2. For rituals related to the commemoration of the dead: death anniversary, 40th day, etc.

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