Musical Formats of the Syro Malabar Qurbana

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As many of you may know the Syro Malabar Qurbana is perhaps one of the most melodious liturgies of the Catholic Church. In attention to its East Syriac Roots and its Indian Heritage this Qurbana has taken on three different forms and transformed during the span of it’s existence. I would like to use this thread to explain the trio of vastly different musical layouts the Syro Malabar Qurbana applicates.

Syriac Form
The first and most oldest musical form of the Qurbana is the Syriac form. Basically this form is the East Syriac Qurbana that was introduced to the St. Thomas Christians in the earliest of centuries. From 52 A.D to 1653 it is believed that this form was sung and performed exactly like in its counterpart Churches (Chaldean/Assyrian) in the Middle East. When the Portuguese arrived in Kerala and started Latinizations, the Syriac Qurbana was extremely diluted. The Latin Church introduced instruments such as the base drum, violin, etc, to keep tempo, this truly changed the tune of the Syriac Qurbana to very gruff and brusque instead of smooth flowing like the Chaldean and Assyrian Qurbana’s. This form of Qurbana was largely used until 1962 when the Syro Malabar Church greatly restored its East Syriac Rite to authenticity by removing Latinizations. The restored Qurbana was a major change which translated the Qurbana to Malayalam and altered its musical layout.

Syriac Examples
Kandisa Alaha: youtube.com/watch?v=og4apBN4GSg
Laku Mara: youtube.com/watch?v=xyYs3dDoOIw
Ormaprathana: youtube.com/watch?v=bz4qtvgTdZ8

Thuya Form
This newly translated version of the Qurbana sung in Malayalam was known as Thuya. The Thuya musical form incorporated the old Syriac melodies into Malayalam and replaced some of the instruments with Indian instruments such as the tabla and so on. The Thuya Qurbana was very simple and all the hymns followed a 1,2,3 beat, it’s simplicity was not however unpleasant to the ear but very delightful. Sadly the Thuya Qurbana had a very short run, this form of musical notation was only used from the 1960s to the 1980s. With India’s music industry booming and changing to the use of electronics, the Syro Malabar Church followed.

Thuya Examples
Kandisa Alaha: youtube.com/watch?v=7E6dq_lW3D8
Laku Mara: youtube.com/watch?v=odMGTWQQGi8
Ormaprarthana: youtube.com/watch?v=5dv8u38YMcw

Classical Form
With the use of electronics a new form of musical notation emerged known as the “Classical Form”. This version of Qurbana incorporated the electronic keyboard to accompany hymns. The melodies that the keyboard spewed followed fully Carnatic or South Indian formats, completely changing the musical layout from its predecessors. The Classical Form in my opinion does not coincide with the East Syriac nature of the Syro Malabar Church and is not simple in the least bit. The use of the keyboard has led to the rise of more and more random and sometimes gaudy beats created by Syro Malabar music producers and priests. In my opinion it is just too much, the keyboard mashes up tunes and melodies that are not Syro Malabar but something that should be heard in a film or show. A liturgy should be simple yet beautiful but the “Electronic Qurbana” used currently in the Syro Malabar Church seems to me to be the complete opposite. Sadly this electronic form of musical notation is here to stay and only keeps advancing.

Classical Examples
Kandisa Alaha: youtu.be/YbvM9O3lgvU?t=23s
Laku Mara: youtu.be/eXbb5-IVxnI?t=22s
Ormaprarthana: youtu.be/WO9QEngJ4ZI?t=22s
 
Great post and thank you for sharing this info! The one time I attended a Malabar liturgy the keyboard was used.
 
I would probably be banned if I were to state my opinion of the “Classical (not anything of the sort, really)” form.

And I was born in the US! I would love to see a renewal of the “real” classic forms of the Indian liturgies.
 
Defend_the_Keys said:
Great post and thank you for sharing this info! The one time I attended a Malabar liturgy the keyboard was used.
Click to expand...
I pray the keyboard was not too severe during your experience.
Medical_Student said:
I would probably be banned if I were to state my opinion of the “Classical (not anything of the sort, really)” form.

And I was born in the US! I would love to see a renewal of the “real” classic forms of the Indian liturgies.
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I could not agree more. I love both the Syriac and Thuya Form, the Syriac because it sounds so powerful and archaic and Thuya because it is simple yet so divine. It is one of my utmost dreams that the Syro Malabar Church will return to one of these forms or perhaps even a mix of both Thuya and Syriac. I feel that many Syro Malabar Catholics share this same opinion but don’t bring attention to the issue. I would pay money to see the Qurbana started like this (Thuya) instead of this (“Classical”).
 
I am sadly under-informed about the Eastern Rites other than the Byzantine, and for me this is invaluable information. For whatever reason, I thought music would be kind of the same for the other Rites, mysterious chant and simple instrumentation, if any. Now I feel more empowered to know that I would only enjoy a Syro-Malabar liturgy if it used the Syriac style.

Music is a huge thing for me; I feel it is central to the sacred liturgy and should adequately express the mystery and beauty in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. I endure a lot of bad music in the Roman Rite. I always bless the rare opportunity to participate in a liturgy with beautiful sacred music. This I often do merely by YouTube or live stream over the Internet. Someday I hope to attend all the different types of Eastern Rites in person, and since I have great love for India, that includes the Syro-Malabar, and armed with this information, I have better knowledge of the common musical styles used in that liturgy.
 
Elizium23 said:
I am sadly under-informed about the Eastern Rites other than the Byzantine, and for me this is invaluable information. For whatever reason, I thought music would be kind of the same for the other Rites, mysterious chant and simple instrumentation, if any. Now I feel more empowered to know that I would only enjoy a Syro-Malabar liturgy if it used the Syriac style.

Music is a huge thing for me; I feel it is central to the sacred liturgy and should adequately express the mystery and beauty in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. I endure a lot of bad music in the Roman Rite. I always bless the rare opportunity to participate in a liturgy with beautiful sacred music. This I often do merely by YouTube or live stream over the Internet. Someday I hope to attend all the different types of Eastern Rites in person, and since I have great love for India, that includes the Syro-Malabar, and armed with this information, I have better knowledge of the common musical styles used in that liturgy.
Click to expand...
I could not agree more that music is a major part of any liturgy, hymns and chants can be so powerful. I am glad that you have an interest in the Eastern Rites and the Syro Malabar Church. The Syriac style is one of my favorites but out of pure curiosity, what was your opinion on the Thuya Style. Here are a few more examples -

youtube.com/watch?v=NngCg6Nn9do
youtube.com/watch?v=3OZqjTxzf5M
youtube.com/watch?v=zqPF3V4XP5M

Also this is one of my favorite videos of authentic Syro Malabar Syriac chant available on youtube. The choir from Kottayam Archdiocese sing the East Syriac hymns “Bar Maryam” (Son of Mary) and “Hallell, Hallel” (Sing Praise to the Lord, Oh Angels) among others.

youtube.com/watch?v=eDsTlUflql0
 
AnthonyJ said:
Hello Thomas,

What form of the Holy Qurbana is being celebrated in this video?:

youtube.com/watch?v=h4HcrIXQn-k

Thank you
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What must be understood about the Syro Malabar Qurbana is that the entire celebration is chanted. There is no part of the liturgy where the priest celebrates in a regular tone, no matter what musical format is followed all three follow the same chant tone. What I mean by “chant” are the parts of the Qurbana where liturgical hymns are not sung. That video that you shared does not follow any musical format but is completely chanted in the Syro Malabar style. Thanks for sharing, I have never seen a Qurbana completely chanted without singing hymns in a musical format.

Not regarding any musical format, the Syro Malabar chant style is the same or at least similar. In example the video below is performed in the classical form but if you jump to parts when hymns are not sung, you’ll notice the tone of the chant. The tone of voice “chant” is very similar in the Syro Malankara Church and all of the Indian Churches that use a Syriac Rite.

youtu.be/5GW2q71EQxg?t=31m46s
 
Thomas, I got the chance to visit three Syro Malabar Masses in my life so far. The first two I went to sounded like the classical form. The last one I went to was actually a funeral I attended with one of my Syro Malabar friends, which sounded like the Thya version you mentioned. I have never got the chance to visit a Syriac Mass yet, do you know when a Syriac Mass will be celebrated here in the U.S? I live in the Chicago area.
 
In addition to the SyroMalabar, there is a Syro-Malankara parish in Evanston you may be interested in attending
 
SyroMalankara said:
In addition to the SyroMalabar, there is a Syro-Malankara parish in Evanston you may be interested in attending
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Thanks I’ll look into that but I’ve really been wanting to visit a Syro Malabar style Syriac Mass.
 
You may have to go to Changanassery or Kottayam for that, I don’t expect it will happen within the US unless a priest/bishop and choir is invited from India for this.
 
Catechesis said:
Thomas, I got the chance to visit three Syro Malabar Masses in my life so far. The first two I went to sounded like the classical form. The last one I went to was actually a funeral I attended with one of my Syro Malabar friends, which sounded like the Thya version you mentioned. I have never got the chance to visit a Syriac Mass yet, do you know when a Syriac Mass will be celebrated here in the U.S? I live in the Chicago area.
Click to expand...
SyroMalankara said:
You may have to go to Changanassery or Kottayam for that, I don’t expect it will happen within the US unless a priest/bishop and choir is invited from India for this.
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I am glad that you have an interest in the Syriac Qurbana, however SyroMalankara is right. The only time I remember a fully Syriac Qurbana being celebrated in the United States was when Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry (Bishop of Kottayam) came to the United States on a visit more than a decade ago. The problem is not that Syro Malabar priests don’t know how to celebrate the Syriac Form, the problem is that there are no choirs in North America who know how to play the instrumentals and chant in the Syriac manner. Sadly, I don’t think it is likely that we will see any complete Syriac Form Qurbanas in North America, at least not for the time being. Like Brother SyroMalankara stated, your best bet would be to visit the diocese’ of Changanassery or Kottayam in India (the two most Pro-Syriac diocese of the Syro Malabar Church) who regularly celebrate Syriac Qurbanas on numerous events, though I understand this is a stretch.

However some Syro Malabar priests like to incorporate simple Syriac hymns into the modern Qurbana. In example the previous priest of my parish would often exchange the Malayalam version of the Trisagion for the Syriac version “Kandisa Alaha”. It was always a very surprising delight when he would do this during the Qurbana. Chants like Kandisa were not challenging for the choir to learn, however you can understand where learning an entire Syriac Qurbana would be arduous.
ByzCathCantor said:
👍

Ditto! Thanks so much - I learned a lot from the OP, and am now eager to learn more!
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You are very welcome, I am very happy to shed light on the various customs and traditions of my Church.
 
Thomas48 said:
… The problem is not that Syro Malabar priests don’t know how to celebrate the Syriac Form, the problem is that there are no choirs in North America who know how to play the instrumentals and chant in the Syriac manner. …
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Trisagion in East Syriac for Syro-Malabar Qurbana at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 2013:

youtube.com/watch?v=FmxjD609Wck
 
Vico said:
Trisagion in East Syriac for Syro-Malabar Qurbana at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 2013:

youtube.com/watch?v=FmxjD609Wck
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Note the second part of my previous post, this is one of the simple hymns that have been learned. Also the instrumentals in this video are not the correct instruments used to accompany a Syriac Qurbana.
Thomas48 said:
However some Syro Malabar priests like to incorporate simple Syriac hymns into the modern Qurbana. In example the previous priest of my parish would often exchange the Malayalam version of the Trisagion for the Syriac version “Kandisa Alaha”. It was always a very surprising delight when he would do this during the Qurbana. Chants like Kandisa were not challenging for the choir to learn, however you can understand where learning an entire Syriac Qurbana would be arduous.
Click to expand...
 
Thomas48 said:
Note the second part of my previous post, this is one of the simple hymns that have been learned. Also the instrumentals in this video are not the correct instruments used to accompany a Syriac Qurbana.
Click to expand...
Of course. However, it is not clear what instruments would be traditional, especially since 1986 when a revised liturgy was approved in Rome to bring the Syro-Malabar Church closer to the Chaldean tradition, yet I believe that the majority of the faithful consider it to be Chaldeanization. (The Assyrian Church of the East is non instrumental.)
 
Vico said:
Of course. However, it is not clear what instruments would be traditional, especially since 1986 when a revised liturgy was approved in Rome to bring the Syro-Malabar Church closer to the Chaldean tradition, yet I believe that the majority of the faithful consider it to be Chaldeanization. (The Assyrian Church of the East is non instrumental.)
Click to expand...
With the revitalization of the Qurbana in 1986 the Syro Malabar Church was leaning away from the Thuya Qurbana and formed the musical notation of what we have today, the Classical Qurbana. This form of the Qurbana (the melodies/instrumentation) is anything but Chaldean/Assyrian in nature. The Church moved more towards a Carnatic (Indian) instrumentation and melody, first they had live instruments and then moved towards the electronic keyboard that is used today. The 1986 restoration brought about increased East Syriac authenticity for the Qurbana but not for the style of chant and instrumentation.

Besides bringing the Qurbana to more authenticity, the Syriac Qurbana’s instrumentation was not affected by the 1986 restoration. The traditional instruments of the Syriac Qurbana have been the same since Latin priests introduced them centuries ago. Before Latinizations it is believed that the Syro Malabar Syriac Qurbana was chanted similarly to the Assyrian and Chaldean Qurbana with few to no instruments. However, even with all the restorations that our Church has developed, the instrumentation of the Syriac Qurbana has never been changed even though it is a huge Latinizaiton. The instruments of the Syriac Qurbana give Syro Malabar Catholics a feel of tradition and heritage, that is why it has never been changed.

The traditional instruments include:
  • Base Drum
  • Violin
  • Harmonium
  • Triangle
Examples of Traditional Syriac Instrumentation and Style of Chant:

youtube.com/watch?v=eDsTlUflql0
youtube.com/watch?v=KR8PU_uwS-U
youtube.com/watch?v=8WVp-eM4jyI

**Timeline of Musical Notation Change:
**
Syriac Qurbana Pre-Latinization (No Instruments): ?-1599? (Assumed)
-Assumed to be the original East Syriac Qurbana of the Assyrian Church in India

Syriac Qurbana (Instrumentation): 1599-1962
-East Syriac Qurbana Latinized by Portuguese Missionaries
-Later restored to authenticity but kept Latinized Instruments

Malayalam Thuya Qurbana Introduced: 1962-1980s
-Restored East Syriac Qurbana translated to Malayalam, same chant style with some Indian instruments
-Usage changed to funerals only, after introduction of Classical Qurbana

Classical Qurbana Introduced: 1980s-Present
-Further East Syriac restoration and complete change of musical notation.
-Carnatic instruments introduced and style of chant for hymns changed.
-Progressed implementing electronic keyboard that is currently in use.
 
Thomas48 said:
With the revitalization of the Qurbana in 1986 the Syro Malabar Church was leaning away from the Thuya Qurbana and formed the musical notation of what we have today, the Classical Qurbana. This form of the Qurbana (the melodies/instrumentation) is anything but Chaldean/Assyrian in nature. The Church moved more towards a Carnatic (Indian) instrumentation and melody, first they had live instruments and then moved towards the electronic keyboard that is used today. The 1986 restoration brought about increased East Syriac authenticity for the Qurbana but not for the style of chant and instrumentation.

Besides bringing the Qurbana to more authenticity, the Syriac Qurbana’s instrumentation was not affected by the 1986 restoration. The traditional instruments of the Syriac Qurbana have been the same since Latin priests introduced them centuries ago. Before Latinizations it is believed that the Syro Malabar Syriac Qurbana was chanted similarly to the Assyrian and Chaldean Qurbana with few to no instruments. However, even with all the restorations that our Church has developed, the instrumentation of the Syriac Qurbana has never been changed even though it is a huge Latinizaiton. The instruments of the Syriac Qurbana give Syro Malabar Catholics a feel of tradition and heritage, that is why it has never been changed.

The traditional instruments include:
  • Base Drum
  • Violin
  • Harmonium
  • Triangle
Examples of Traditional Syriac Instrumentation and Style of Chant:

youtube.com/watch?v=eDsTlUflql0
youtube.com/watch?v=KR8PU_uwS-U
youtube.com/watch?v=8WVp-eM4jyI

**Timeline of Musical Notation Change:
**
Syriac Qurbana Pre-Latinization (No Instruments): ?-1599? (Assumed)
-Assumed to be the original East Syriac Qurbana of the Assyrian Church in India

Syriac Qurbana (Instrumentation): 1599-1962
-East Syriac Qurbana Latinized by Portuguese Missionaries
-Later restored to authenticity but kept Latinized Instruments

Malayalam Thuya Qurbana Introduced: 1962-1980s
-Restored East Syriac Qurbana translated to Malayalam, same chant style with some Indian instruments
-Usage changed to funerals only, after introduction of Classical Qurbana

Classical Qurbana Introduced: 1980s-Present
-Further East Syriac restoration and complete change of musical notation.
-Carnatic instruments introduced and style of chant for hymns changed.
-Progressed implementing electronic keyboard that is currently in use.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the excellent summary!
 
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