No-200-to-151

RR-200 to RR-151

Call Number: RR-171

Dixon weds Nivya - Wedding Invitation Card

A unique marriage invitation with Biblical quotes in Syriac.

Call Number: RR-170

Lāku Mārā (Resurrection Hymn)

Music score by S. Sebastian

Call Number: RR-169

North American Story - The story of Bilingual Qurbana in North America

Call Number: RR-168

The Order of the Syro Malabar Holy Qurbana - Pages from Missalette

Missalette Published for the celebration of Qurbana at the Syro Malabar National Convention , Houston held from August 1 to August 4, 2019

These pages are from the missalette that was in use at the celebration of Qurbana at the Syro Malabar Convention (August 1-4), 2019, in Houston, Texas. What is noteworthy is the inclusion of the original Syriac text of the Resurrection Hymn (Lāku Mārā) and the Trisagion (Qandiśā Alāhā) in Malayalam transliteration, along with their Malayalam versions that are currently in use. Although both Syriac and Malayalam versions are in the missalette, the Syriac version was the choice of the celebrants and choir on all four days of the Convention. It was a remarkable choice, because gradually the Syriac versions, both text and melody, are becoming part of the celebrations of Qurbana among the Syro Malabar communities in North America. The church choirs are becoming more and more comfortable with these chants. It is one of the positive outcomes from introducing Syriac chants in the celebration of Qurbana at the National Shrine and Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D. C. on September 7, 2013. That was also the year in which the Christian Musicological Society of India embarked on the Aramaic Project. The church choirs have started using the resource materials that are available on the website. If this trend catches on, the nature of Syro Malabar liturgy might undergo a significant change in the distant future.

Joseph Palackal, CMI
New York
12 October 2019

Call Number: RR-167

Chant texts in the handwriting of Fr. Abel CMI

Call Number: RR-167a

Fr. Abel's letter to Fr. Joseph Palackal on Syriac chants

(Dt. 15 Dec 1997)

The personal letter, was written on the official letterhead of Kalabhavan (14cms x 22.5 cms).the letter contains an important piece of information on the rhythmic aspect of Syriac and Malayalam versions of chants. Fr. Abel writes, പൺട് നമ്മൾ സുറിയാനിയിൽ പാടിയിരുന്നപ്പോൾ താളം പാലിച്ചിരുന്നില്ല. മലയാളത്തിലായപ്പോൾ കുറെയൊക്കെ താളമുൺട്.“In the past when we used to sing in Syriac, we did not keep rhythm. In the Malayalam version, we keep rhythm to some extent.” In two simple sentences, Fr. Abel hinted a topic of a comparative/analytical study of the application of rhythm in the Syriac and Malayalam versions of chants.