Encyclopedia of Syriac chants


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

Encyclopedia of Syriac Chants - Index

CMSI Ref Number (101-0018)
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

 

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

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 Syriac 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.

    Available recordings
    Malayalam version (Wita wangunnen - വിട വാങ്ങുന്നെ )
    • Aramaic Project 11.26 -Witawangunnen" Fr. Abel, CMI sings Malayalam version of Etha Pus Lek
    • DCS-266 - വിടവാങ്ങുന്നേൻ' Witavangunnen' In Homage to Fr. Cherian Nereveetil. Voice of Fr. Abel CMI. | Goto Notes Page

    Available resources

    Aramaic Project Recordings

    S.No. Artist Youtube Link Aramaic Project Number Notes
    1 Fr. George Plathottam Video AP 81
    2 Fr. Probus Perumalil Video AP 4P
    3 Fr. George Plathottam Video AP 81A
    4 Fr. Cyril Thayyil Video. AP 85
    5 Fr. Abel CMI Video AP 12A
    6 Rev. Fr. Sebastian Sankoorikkal: Video AP 25A
    7 Fr George Vithayathil Video AP 131
    8 Fr. Mathew Mattam Video AP 62DD
    9 Dr. Joseph J. Palackal Video AP 121
    10 Fr. George Plathottam Video AP 140
    11 Dr. Joseph J. Palackal Video AP 230
    12 Fr. George Platottam Video AP 235
    13. Fr. Emmanel Thelly CMI Video AP 236
    14. Fr. Sebastian Sankoorikkal ( Malayalam Version) Video AP 238

     

    Remarks:

    See a detailed study of this chant in our Resources for research (Ref. Code 008-031) - The Survival Story of Syriac Chants among the St. Thomas Christians in South India

    Copyright

    Copyright: Christian Musicological Society of India. Do not use any part of this article without prior written permission from the Christian Musicological Society of India. For permission please send request to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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