Kerala, the Cradle of Christianity in South Asia: The Cultural Interface of Religion and Music (DVD)

The six million Christians in Kerala, on the southwest coast of India, follow a variety of liturgical and musical traditions some of which date back to the early Christian era. This film explores the historical embeddedness of these traditions that came about as a result of the region's commercial, cultural, and religious interactions with the Middle East, Europe, and America. The narrative follows the events that led to the introduction of the Chaldean, Antiochene, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and other liturgies along with the musical styles associated with them. Over the centuries, these styles have become an integral part of the musical mosaic of Kerala. A renewed attempt in the recent past to interpret Christianity in Indian terms has contributed to adaptations of semi-classical and bhajan styles of music into Christian worship. The film documents excerpts from the current practice of chants in East Syriac, West Syriac, Latin, Sanskrit, English, and Malayalam. The film also showcases a unique performance context in which Hindu instrumental ensembles share space in a church festival, indicating the extent of religious harmony that exists in the region; the festival includes several ritual elements that the Portuguese missionaries introduced in the sixteenth century. Drawing attention to the lesser known aspects of the religious, musical, and linguistic complexity of the region, the film presents Kerala as a potential field for inquiries in an emerging area of scholarship on Christian music in India.

Detailed Abstract
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The film was released on Aug 2, 2008 at Kerala House in Delhi. The Department of Tourism of the Government of Kerala organized the function.
Speech on the occasion by Joseph J. Palackal

Mr. Amit Kant I. A. S. receives the first copy of the DVD from Honorable Cyriac Joseph, Justice of the Supreme Court of India. Joseph Palackal on the right.

Screening schedule:

Screenplay, cinematography, and direction: Jain Joseph, FTII
Script and narration: Joseph J. Palackal
Research consultants: A. Mathias Mundadan, CMI, and George Menachery.
Duration: 34 Minutes.
Available in PAL and NTSC formats.
Produced by the Christian Musicological Society of India, in collaboration with the Dept. of Education and Mass Media, Sacred Heart Province of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, India, and the Dept. of Tourism, Government of Kerala
Copyright: © 2008 Joseph J. Palackal

Solemn High Mass of the Syro-Malabar Church (CD)

Musical setting of the English version of Mass in the Chaldean rite of the Syro-Malabar Church.
CD with 16 hymns, 16-page booklet, 7 photographs, music example, and bibliography (SMC 101 - 2007).

Music: Joseph J. Palackal and George Thaila
Music Arrangement: Dennis Kurisingal
Liner notes: Joseph J. Palackal
Produced by the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago.
Approved by the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church.

The Choir:
First row, seated left to right: Linda Manchery, Jeslin James (tamburu), Asha Kurian.
Second row: Christy John, Marianne Thaila, Janey James, Gina Mathew.
Third row, standing left to right: Joseph J. Palackal, Theiju Sebastian, Sonia Augustine, Feba Thoyalil, George Thaila, Tonia Kurian, and Hector Lewis.
Background: Christ the Guru.
Photo by Balu Menon. May 9, 2007.

Soloists: Joseph J. Palackal, Feba Thoyalil, and Marianne Thaila.
Female chorus: Asha Kurian, Theiju Sebastian, Christy John, Gina Mathew, Janey James, Jelsin James, Linda Manchery, Sonia Augustine, and Tonia Kurian.
Male chorus: Hector Lewis, George Thaila.
Keyboard: Dennis Kurisingal.
Flute: Laura Falzon.
Violin: Elizabeth Young.
Harp: Marie Harrington.
Tamburu: Jeslyn James.
Bamboo flute (track 15): Suresh P. Ravunni.
Conductor: George Thaila.
Recorded by Martin Manayani at Martin's Digital, Queens Village, New York. April 2007.
Music copyright: © 2007 Joseph J. Palackal and George Thaila.

List of tracks:

1. Glory to God. Joseph J. Palackal and chorus (1:20)
2. Our Father. Joseph J. Palackal and chorus (2:21)
3. Psalms. Joseph J. Palackal, Feba Thoyalil, and chorus (3:13)
4. Resurrection hymn. Joseph J. Palackal, Feba Thoyalil, and chorus (1:32)
5. Trisagion. Joseph J. Palackal, Feba Thoyalil, and chorus (1:18)
6. Suraya. Joseph J. Palackal, Marianne Thaila, Feba Thoyalil, and chorus (1:38)
7. Alleluia Hymn. Feba Thoyalil, Marianne Thaila, and chorus (1:48)
8. Gospel Acclamation. Joseph J. Palackal and chorus (0:30)
9. Anthem of the Mysteries. Joseph J. Palackal, Feba Thoyalil and chorus (2:22)
10. Commemoration Hymn. Joseph J. Palackal and chorus (2:06)
11. Salutation and Dialogue. Joseph J. Palackal and chorus (1:13)
12. Holy, Holy, Holy. Chorus (1:13)
13. Penitential Psalm. Joseph J. Palackal and chorus (0:36)
14. I am the Living Bread. Feba Thoyalil, Marianne Thaila and chorus (1:48)
15. Final Blessing. Joseph J. Palackal and chorus (2:38)
16. As our Lord Commanded. Joseph J. Palackal and chorus (1:03)

Text of Hymns

Excerpts from liner notes

Qurbana: Solemn High Mass of the Syro-Malabar Church (Music Notation)

Notation book for Solemn High Mass of the Syro-Malabar Church.

Foreword by Joseph J. Palackal
Illustrations: Dan Fuller, Fuller Advertising Inc., New York.
Design: Predish, Design Sama, Kochi, India.
Published by St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago in collaboration with Christian Musicological Society of India.
First edition: Chicago and Aluva 2007.
Copyright: © 2007 Joseph J. Palackal, George Thaila and Dennis Kurisingal.

Qambel Maran: Syriac Chants from South India (CD)

CD with 29 chants, 16-page booklet in English, map, 7 photographs, and bibliography.
Chants in Syriac (Aramaic) from the Chaldean liturgy of the Syro-Malabar Church of the St. Thomas Christians. Includes chants from the liturgy of the Hours, Raza, funeral services, Syriac translation of Latin chants by St.Thomas Aquinas, and chants for special occasions such as wedding and celebration of the feast of the Blessed Virgin and saints.
Performers include Fr.Abel Periyappuram, CMI (1920-2001), Fr. Probus Perumalil, CMI, et al.
Recorded in Kerala, South India, in 1999 and 2000. (PAN 2085)
Recorded and annotated by Joseph J. Palackal
Publisher: PAN Records (Netherlands), 2002. (PAN 2085)

"Capturing the sounds of these melodies at this juncture is an imperative because, more than music, they are an integral part of the history of a people, linguistic soundscape of a region, and musical map of a country. Moreover, the performers are crucial witnesses to a transnational tradition that is in rapid transition."

-- Joseph J. Palackal

List of tracks:

1. Awun d'wasmayya [Our Father in heaven] (2: 26)
2. Hallel hallel [Praise, praise] (2: 27)
3. Iso maaran m'siha [Lord Jesus Christ] (2: 51)
4. Maarya kolhon hawbay [Lord, all my faults] (1: 41)
5. B'endaan sapraa [In the morning] (2: 04)
6. Esthappaanos [St. Stephen] (1: 14)
7. Brik hannaanaa [Blessed is the merciful one] (1: 10)
8. Etpan al slotaa [Turn to the prayer] (1: 18)
9. Taaw n'yaqar [Come, let us honor] (1: 33)

1. Sliwaa dahwaa lan [The Cross that became for us] (1: 32)
2. Dezdamman inja [O you who are invited] (1: 32)
3. K'taaawa rambaa [The great book] (1: 28)
4. Slaam lek maryam [Hail Mary] (2: 51)

1. Qambel maaran [Accept, O Lord] (4: 52)
2. La tekre laak [Do not be sorry] (2: 00)
3. Layka azal min ruhaak [Where flee from your Spirit?] (2: 15)
4. B'hadmin yaawmin [On one of the days] (1: 22)
5. Ettaa pus lek [Farewell, O church] (2: 19)

1. Quryelayson [Lord, have mercy] (5: 40)
2. Haa qes sliwa [Behold the wood of the Cross] (2: 02)
3. Sabbah lesan [Praise, my tongue] (1: 51)
4. Kollan dasne [Let us all offer; Syriac of `Pange lingua' by St. Thomas Aquinas] (3: 17)
5. Taa laak ruhaa [Come O Spirit] (2: 46)
6. Slaam lek [Hail to you Mary] (1: 53)

1. Bar maryam [Son of Mary] (2: 58)
2. Laak maar yaawsep [You, St. Joseph] (2: 02)
3. Sabbah l'maarya [Praise the Lord] (1: 52)
4. Hadmin ire [One from the angels] (1: 07)
5. B'eda d'yaawmaan [On this festival day] (2: 18)

English transliteration and translation of the Syriac text

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