SYMBOLS AND INTERPRETATION OF THE ETHIOPIAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX TEWAHIDO CHURCH

Mesenqo /The Ethiopian Single string violin/

The name “Mesenqo” is derived from the Geez word, “Senqewe” meaning “to sing” or “to beat”. Like the other Ethiopian musical instruments, Mesenqo has its origin in the Old Testament (Isaiah 5:12, 23:16 and Job 21:12). The Orthodox believers symbolize Mesenqo with St. Mary. The horsetail strings of Mesenqo must be rubbed with incense to produce the sound. According to the believers interpretation, the incense is the example of Jesus Christ. The strings produce sound after rubbed by the incense, St. Mary is known to be the most respected Holy Lady after she has given birth to Christ. The incenses are also related with the incense that the three wise men delivered to Christ at His birth with gold and myrrh.

The straightness and singleness of the string exemplifies the Orthodox Tewahido Faith. In Greek, “Ortho” means “correct/faultless” and “Dox” means “belief” and “Tewahido” represents unity. Accordingly, “Orthodox” stands for one belief that is correct or faultless.

The rainbow-like handle of Mesenqo also symbolizes the rainbow that good showed to Noah as a promise not to punish the world again with water, and the cross at the top reminds believers the cross on which Christ was crucified.

The box of the Mesenqo, which is made up of leather is also the example of Noah`s boat in which he saved himself from the storm. Here, Noah`s boat in turn exemplifies St. Mary and the storm exemplifies the hell. This has a very propounding lesson to the believers that as Noach`s boat saved him from the storm, St. Mary saves the world as She gave birth to Christ

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Meleket /The Trumpet/

Meleket has its origin dating back to the Old Testament (Genesis 4:21,10:1) and psalms 60:3). Peoples used Meleket to announce both good and bad, news, meaning happiness and sadness. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church relates this with the Day of Judgment (i.e. the second coming of Christ for the last Judgment). According to this interpretation, the good news is the call for those who fulfilled his orders to be saved in the heaven forever while the bad news if for the sinners to be thrown to the everlasting hell.

Meleket is also to declare war. Like wise, the believers relate this with the declaration of the closeness of the day of the Last Judgment for the Christians to prepare themselves for the heaven fulfilling Christ's orders. In other words, it awakens them to fulfill Christ's orders and be ready for the heavenly life.

Begena /The Ethiopian Harp/

The name Begena is derived from the Geez word “Deredere”, meaning, “to beat”. Its origin also dates back to the Old Testament (Genesis 4:21 and pslams 32:1-4 and 91:3). Begena has ten strings made from horsetail, which symbolize the ten commandments of Christ. The two wooden standings (one on either side) are interpreted as the notifications of the Old and the New Testaments. The horizontal one that connects the two stands represents the Holy Bible that consists of the two stands represents the Holy Bible that consists of the Testaments.

The classical sound of the Begena is believed to be a reminiscent of St. Mary prayer to Her child, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of the signers.

Embilta /A Pipe- Like, wind instrument/

Embilta has also been used to praise God beginning from the Old Testament (Psalms 150:4, 1Chronicles 15:28 and Job 21:12). Regarding the symbolic interpretation, Embilta and Trumba (another trumpet) have the same interpretation as Meleket.

Washint /The flute/

Washint also its origin the Old Testament (Daniel 3:5). According to the Orthodox believers, Washint represents the Gospel, which is the declaration of the coming of Christ. The four holes of Washint are the examples of the four Evangelists: Mathew, Mark, Luke and John.

Though they are not parts of the above-mentioned traditional musical instruments, the writer would like to interpret the symbols of Qeshemara (The Tingdereb) and Maharam (The hand kerchief)

Qeshemara

Qeshemara is an embroidery uniform garment that the clergymen wear around their waist while chanting during the celebration of holy days. They do this to symbolize the rope that the Jews used to fasten Christ at His waist to pull forward and backward on his way to Kerena carrying the cross to be crucified on it.

Maharam /The Handkerchief/

It is a piece of decorated cloth that priests use to hold their hand crosses and professional crosses. It symbolic interpretation is related to the piece of cloth that St. Mary was shroud at Her death and also believed that She gave it to Thomas (The Apostle) at Her ascension. This was to show to the other Apostles as a witness to persuade those who might doubt about her ascension. It is also related with the handkerchief that a Jewish lady, Solomie gave to Christ to clean His sweat at His suffering before His crucifixion.

Conclusion

Nowadays, the “modernists” are complaining consistently about the use of these instruments by the Church. They want some modern instruments to be used, substituting the traditional ones. However, the Church strongly refuses such attitudes because of the above-mentioned reasons and to preserve these traditional musical instruments symbols, as they are our heritages. The Church also argues that instruments used for secular occasions must not be used in the Church for rituals.

The church also advises the young chanters to reduce their too fast rotation while beating the kabaro (the drum). Too fast rotation while beating the drum is not welcomed by the church for it is not its tradition.

May the blessing of God be with as all ! Amen!

Source: Qirs Magazine July 2002

By Bantalem Tadesse

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