Interviews and Performances - Video List
AP 180 to 171

Fr. Paul Kodamullil. Solemn Syriac Qurbana. Pre-1962 version.

This image for Image Layouts addon
AP 172 - Fr. Paul Kodamullil. Solemn Syriac Qurbana. Pre-1962 version.
Call Number

AP 172

Part Number Part I - Syro Malabar Church
Title Fr. Paul Kodamullil. Solemn Syriac Qurbana. Pre-1962 version.
Duration 54:35
Place of Recording Pre-1962 version
Date of Recording  
Youtube URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwwhJUsZi6I
Video Segment (s)

 

Notes

Fr Paul Kodamullil. Solemn Syriac Qurbana. Pre-1962 version

We are indeed fortunate to have this recording of Solemn Qurbana by Fr. Paul Kodamullil (d. 2019). This is one of the very few recordings available of the pre-1962 version of the solemn Qurbana. Fr. Kodamullil was a celebrated singer, who was gifted with a powerful and resonant voice. His vocal style is reminiscent of the pre-amplification era when singers had to reach out to large audiences without the aid of a microphone or acoustic amphitheaters. During his active years, Fr. Kodamullil used to be sought after to be the celebrant at solemn sung mass during parish festivals. This recording was originally published on a pre-recorded cassette. The digital transfer has adversely affected the speed of performance and, consequently, the quality of voice. We can hear Fr. Kodamullil's live voice in Aramaic Project-3. The short introduction In this recording gives us a glimpse of Fr. Kodamullil's speaking voice. [From the note on Aramaic Project-3 Fr. Kodamullil was a living link to a unique period of time (the 1950s) and place (St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary at Mangalapuzha, Aluva) in the history of the Syriac chants in India. During this period, we see an unusual convergence of great and diverse musical talents and heightened musical activity at St. Joseph’s Seminary; Fr. Mathew Vadakel, an excellent singer and composer of Syriac chants, served as a professor. In this video, we hear the solemn melody of the Resurrection Hymn in Syriac, “Lāku mārā,” (To You O Lord) that Fr. Vadakel composed. Fr. Aurelius, OCD, a Carmelite from Spain and an expert in Western art music, was the music director and organist. The Seminary owned a huge pipe organ, probably the only one of its kind in India. Fr. Vadakel and Fr. Aurelius collaborated in publishing the musical notation (staff notation) of the solemn high mass in Syriac in 1954: kērala kaldāya suriyāni rīthile thirukkarma gīthangal (Liturgical songs of the Chaldeo-Syrian Rite of Kerala). The text layout is in the Malayalam script. The first part of the book contains a lesson plan in Malayalam to learn staff notation and western art music in general. The book was published by S. H. League, the publishing wing of the Seminary. Fr. Kodamullil was lucky to have had such great mentors. As choirmaster of the Seminary for seven years, he also had opportunities to interact closely with Fr. Vadakel and Fr. Aurelius in making decisions on the musical choices for the liturgical celebrations and the performances of the official Syriac Choir at the Seminary. A group photo from 1958 that is in the cherished possession of Fr. Kodamullil is the source for the images of Fr. Vadakel and Fr. Aurelius shown on this video. One can only imagine the sonic heaven created by the solemn Syriac melodies in the voices of such gifted singers to the accompaniment of the majestic sound of the pipe organ. That could not have happened anywhere else in the world. We are grateful to Babu Puthumana for sharing this recording with us and granting permission to post it on our channel.

Joseph J. Palackal, CMI
New York
3 March 2020

Related Videos

  • AP 35 - "Suwha lawaa." Commemoration hymn from the solemn Qurbana in Syriac.
  • AP 38 - Alleluia from the solemn Qurbana of the Syro Malabar Church in Syriac.
  • AP 52a - Melody of "U al ar'a" (And on earth). Syriac translation of 'Gloria in Excelsis Deo'. From the solemn Qurbana in Syriac in the Syro Malabar Church before 1962.
  • AP 52c - Sebastian Menachery sings and speaks about the chant, 'Barek Maar" (Bless O Lord) from solemn celebration of Qurbana in Syriac in the Syro Malabar Church.
  • AP 52e - Melody of "M’haymneenan" from the Creed In Syriac during solemn celebration of Qurbana. Probabaly composed in Kerala
  • AP 52m - Melody of "Ahai Qambel." which is the deacon's invitation to receive the holy communion from the Solemn Qurbana.
  • AP 52n - Melody of “Rahme Suqaanaa”, from the reconciliation rite in the solemn Qurbana.
  • AP 54f - Fr. Jose P. Kottaram sings "Thaibūthe d’māran īšōmišīhâ." Blessing and the Salutation and dialogue in solemn Qurbana: Syriac and Malayalam versions.
  • AP 54g - Fr. Jose P. Kottaram sings two melodies of “Kad qāyēn” - the introduction to "Holy, Holy Holy" in solemn Qurbana in Syriac.
  • AP 54h - Fr. Jose P. Kottaram sings "Yāēmār b’kōl yāwmīn" which is the slotha (prayer) before the Huthamma (final blessing) on Sundays in Qurbana in Syriac.
  • AP 62cc - Melody of Final Blessing in Solemn Qurbana
  • AP 70 - Fr. George Plathottam. Solemn sung Qurbana in Syriac
  • AP 70h - Lākāu Mārā. Resurrection hymn from Syro Malabar Qurbana in Syriac
  • AP 70n - Alleluia from Solemn Qurbana in Syriac. Celebrant: Fr. George Plathottam.
  • AP 80 - Solemn sung Qurbana (Syriac). Msgr. Jacob Vellian
  • AP 80c - "Thesbohtha l'alāhā" (Glory to God) Excerpt from Solemn Qurbana in Syriac
  • AP 96 - Solemn Sung Qurbana in Syriac at Irinjalakkuda
  • AP 100 - A Historic Event - Solemn Qurbana in Syriac
  • AP 119 - Solemn Syriac Qurbana . Fr. Probus Perumalil, CMI. A musical treasure
  • AP 122 - Fr Cyril Thayyil. Solemn Qurbana in Syriac. Koovappadam, Kochi
  • AP 155 - Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt. Solemn Qurbana in Syriac. Elanji
  • AP 156 - Fr Cyril Thayyil: Solemn Qurbana in Syriac at Kuravilangad
  • AP 157 - Fr. George Nellikkatt: Solemn Qurbana in Syriac
  • AP 165 - Solemn Qurbana in Syriac. Fr. Saji Mattathil, Fr. Joseph Pathil
  • AP 175 - Fr. Sebastian Sankoorikkal. Solemn Qurbana in Syriac (pre-1962 version)
  • AP 288 - Rare melodies from the Syro Malabar Requiem Qurbana in Syriac.
  • AP 335 - Syriac QURBANA| Newly ordained priest celebrates Syriac Qurbana at Vadavathoor

Print   Email