MALANKARA ORTHODOX CHURCH CHOIR

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is proud of its worshipping heritage. It is through the worship that the faith, tradition, and practice of our fathers are transmitted down the generations. The West Syrian form of worship, language, and music was introduced to the Church in the latter half of the nineteenth century, and we continue to use these in our Church today. Unscientific method of singing has altered Syriac music from its original form. Liturgical music that was passed down through the generations was not through musical notations but through oral tradition. In addition, many Malpans (Teachers) added their own style of singing to their teachings, further increasing the number of variations.

In the Syriac tradition, singers were ordained specifically for singing liturgical songs. Unfortunately, this was lost in the Malankara Church, and we have not been able to find an adequate solution to this day. However, some musically talented people in the parishes themselves provided the leadership that led to the foundation and establishment of the parish choirs in the form that we see today. Although the message that the quality of liturgical singing in our Church needs to be improved was conveyed as a result of their activities, their efforts were not fully successful. Also, such choirs were not given the necessary encouragement by the clergy and by the laity, However, there are no systematic rules for choir singing that are in force, Consequently, disharmony exists in the singing of liturgical songs, even at the individual parish level.

To rescue our worship from this disharmony and its potential long term effects, Sruti, School of Liturgical Music was established on Jan 9th, 1989, as a result of the foresight and vision of the late Metropolitan Dr. Paulose Mar Gregorios, Principal of the Orthodox Seminary, with the approval of the Holy Episcopal Synod. The mandate of the Sruti School, among other things, is to systematize and improve Liturgical singing. Sruti has been making an earnest effort in this direction. In different parishes, the activities of those who have been trained at Sruti continue to bear more fruit.

In 1995, the Holy Episcopal Synod, presided by the late H.H.Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews 11, consented to the formation of "Malankara Orthodox Choir Association." Unfortunately, this association did not flourish.

The present Catholicos, H.H.Baselios Mar Thoma Didymus I seeks to bring a revival in this context. His Holiness has raised the M.O.C.A to the level of an organisation and placed it under the complete responsibility of Sruti School of Liturgical Music,and the Director of Sruti, has been appointed the central Director of the Association. Sruti is a part of the Orthodox Theological Seminary and the leadership given by the faculty facilitate the smooth functioning of its activities.

Purpose of Parish Choirs

1 Formation of well organized, systematically trained and centrally regulated/controlled choirs in all parishes of the church.
2 To make arrangements for organised choir singing/to facilitate organised choir singing in all parishes of the church.
3 To systematize and invigorate liturgical singing in the church and to make it more spiritually enriching,musical and euphonious.
4 To ensure the leadership of the clergy and the participation of the laity in the worship of the church.
5 To develop/evolve appropriates styles of worship or music for various sacraments and ceremonies, and at the same time preserve and pass on to the younger generation the (liturgical) musical heritage and tradition of the church.
6 To encourage the recording of new developments in melodies that are appropriate for the Indian culture.