Etha pus lek (Farewell, O Church)

ഏത്താ പൂശ് ലേക്
Ēthā pūś lēk (Farewell, O Church)

Introduction
Transliteration & Translation (Malayalam)
Transliteration & Translation (English)
Transliteration Guide
Available recordings
Available resources
Copyright

Introduction
Transliteration & Translation (Malayalam)
Transliteration & Translation (English)
Transliteration Guide
Available recordings
Available resources
Copyright

Call Number	EC-0018
Title	Ēthā pūś lēk (Farewell, O Church)
Category	Chants from the Services for the Dead
Sub Category	Madrāśā
Liturgical Context	Funeral services for priest in the Syro Malabar Church

Introduction

The funeral service for priests consists of elaborate ceremonies that last for several hours. The rubrics given in K’ţāwā d’ţeśmeśta dahlāp annīdē (Mannanam, 1921, p. 220) prescribes this madrāśā as part of the farewell ceremony in which the pallbearers carry the casket in procession, first to the main altar and then to the entrances of the church. Although the chant is rendered solo here, in the actual service the congregation sings it in two groups by alternating the stanzas

Syriac Text	Syriac Text

Syriac Text

Malayalam version (Wita wangunnen - വിട വാങ്ങുന്നെ )

The version of Fr. Abel is slightly different from Fr. Perumalil's renditions. For example, the highest pitch in the melody in Fr. Plathottam's version appears in the first phrase, whereas it appears in the second phrase in the other two versions. Fr. Abel's and Fr. Perumalil's versions seem to be musically more logical.

Syriac Version

Sung by Fr. Probus Perumalil, C. M. I.(1922-2009) can be heard on track 18 from the Qambel Maran CD . Fr. Perumalil 's rendition has a different vocal inflection.
Sung by Fr. George Plathottam (1933-2016) Recorded on 3 September 2011 at Old Cathedral Church, Pala, Kerala, India (Aramaic project Video -81)

Printed Pages

Syriac text of the chant, printed at Mar Thoma Sleeha Press, Aluva (1948).

The Syriac text printed at St. Joseph's Press, Mannanam (1921) shows the history of different transmission of the text of this chant (see Ktawa dtesmesta dahlap annide [Book of Services for the Dead], p. 220). Joseph J. Palackal''s study is based on the Mannanam text.

Malayalam translation of the chant by Fr. George Plathottam.

Malayalam version of this chant by Fr. Abel Periyappuram, C. M. I.

Note:

"Etha pus lek," is a precious chant from the (East) Syriac repertoire of the Chaldeo-Malabar Church in Kerala. The Malayalam translation is by Fr. Abel Periyapuram, CMI (1920-2001).The chant is unique from the perspective of the text and the melody. The change of narrative voices within the text and the melismatic ending of phrases are note worthy. A detailed study of this chant can be found in my chapter in Music and World Christianities (Oxford University Press, 2016) . The chapter contains transliteration and translation of the Syriac and Malayalam versions of the text. The Syriac text is heard only rarely at present. We are fortunate to have this video from a celebrated singer of Syriac chants, Fr. George Plathottam (1933-2016).

Joseph J. Palackal
New York
7-Feb-2018

Transliteration &Translation (Malayalam)

Transliteration and translation (by Fr. Abel Periyappuram, CMI) of the Malayalam version

Transliteration

Translation

1. Wiṭa wāngunnēn paripāwanamām
Baliwēdikaye wiṭawāngunnēn.
Muṛapōlinimēl balicheywathināy
Nin padatāril warikilla ñān.

2. Wiṭa wāngunnēn dēwālayame,
Wānawaṛ pāṭum paramālayame,
Swaṛggānandam wiḷayum ninnil
Patiyillinimēl enpādangaḷ.

3. Wiṭa wāngunnēn dēwālayame,
Wānawaṛ pāṭum paramālayame,
Kīṛttana gānam pāṭunnatināy
Tirusannidhiyil warikilla ñān.

4. Iniyen pṛiyare,
pōkunnu ñān Antimayātṛa wandanamōṭe. Dēwālayame,
pōkunnu ñān Kaṛmangaḷkkāy warikillinimēl.

1. May I take leave,
O ever sacred Altar of Sacrifice,, may I take leave.
From now on, as usual to offer Sacrifice
At your footsteps I shall not come.

2. May I take leave, O House of God,
O supreme dwelling where heavenly beings [angels] sing,
In you where heavenly bliss abound,
Shall not tread anymore my feet.

3. May I take leave, O House of God,
O supreme dwelling where heavenly beings sing,
To sing the songs of praise,
To the sacred Presence I shall not come.

4. Now, my beloved people,
I am going, With the final journey’s farewell;
O House of God, I am going;, For the rituals I shall not come anymore

Transliteration & Translation (English)

Transliteration and translation (by Fr. Thomas Kalayil, CMI) of the Syri ac text.

Transliteration

Translation

1. Ēthâpūš(y) lēk(y) bašlāmâ: ʾāzēlnâlî:
W ̔āmōrayk(y) bzaddīqūţâ: ṣallāw ͑ lay.

2. ʾAḥaywḥabrayḥabbībay: ͑ubdūhyldukrān(y):
Dperšētmenkōnwalālam: ṣallāw ͑ lay.

3. ʾĀzēlnâwlâdāhēlnâ: dmār(y) qārêlî:
Waklīlšubḥāsā ͗ēm ͑al rēš(y): wamḥaddêlî.

4. Malaʾkâdetâwdabrāk: la ͑dēnnāwblāk:
Wqurbānâlmārāknqarbāk: zelbašlāmâ.

5. Pūš(w) bašlāmâkahnêzhayyâ: dperšētmenkōn:
Wmâdqāymītōnbgāwbêtqudšâ: ṣallāw ͑ lay.

6. Pūš(w) bašlāmâʾaḥaywḥabray: wabnay ͑enyān(y):
Dsarhebmāwtâparšan(y) menkōn: ṣallāw ͑ lay.

7. Pūš(w) bašlāmâ ͑ammâgabyâ: kenšâprīqâ:
Mārannnaṭarlaknūšātkōn: ṣallāw ͑ lay.

8. (If the departed priest was a Malpān)
ʾOtalmīdaywabnayenyān(y): lâteṭōnān(y):
Wmâdamlītōnbaktābê: ʾetdakrūnān(y).

O church, remain in peace, I am going;
And thy wellers in righteousness, pray for me.

My dear brothers and friends, celebrate my remembrance;
Because I have departed from you and for ever, pray for me.

I am going and am not afraid, my Lord is calling me;
He is placing the crown of glory on me and is gladdening me.

May the angel who came and took thee to Eden, lead thee;
We shall offer thee as an oblation to thy Lord, go in peace.

Remain in peace, O reverend priests, though I have departed from you;
And when you stand in the sanctuary, pray for me.

Remain in peace, O my brothers, my friends, and my companions;
Because death has hastened and separated me from you, pray for me.

Remain in peace, O chosen people, redeemed congregation;
May our Lord keep your assemblies, pray for me.

O my disciples and my companions, do not bear me;
Nonetheless, remember me when you toil with books.