Dark Song

In this chant, ekä (“brother”) would be replaced by “sister,” “ father,” “mother,” depending on the person to be healed.

Ot ekäm ainajanak hany, jama.
My brother’s body is a lump of earth, close to death.
Me, ot ekäm kuntajanak, pirädak ekäm, gond és irgalom türe.
We, the clan of my brother, encircle him with our care and compassion.
O pus wäkenkek, ot omaśarnank, és ot pus fünk, álnak ekäm ainajanak, pitänak ekäm ainajanak elävä.
Our healing energies, ancient words of magic and healing herbs bless my brother’s body, keep it alive.
Ot ekäm sielanak pälä. Ot omboće päläja juta alatt o jüti, kinta, és szelemek lamtijaknak.
But my brother’s soul is only half. His other half wanders in the netherworld.
Ot en mekem ŋamaŋ: kulkedak otti ot ekäm omboće päläjanak.
My great deed is this: I travel to find my brother’s other half.
Rekatüre, saradak, tappadak, odam, kaŋa o numa waram, és avaa owe o lewl mahoz.
We dance, we chant, we dream ecstatically, to call my spirit bird, and to open the door to the other world.
Ntak o numa waram, és mozdulak; jomadak.
I mount my spirit bird and we begin to move; we are under way.
Piwtädak ot En Puwe tyvinak, ećidak alatt o jüti, kinta, és szelemek lamtijaknak.
Following the trunk of the Great Tree, we fall into the netherworld.
Fázak, fázak nó o śaro.
It is cold, very cold.
Juttadak ot ekäm o akarataban, o sívaban és o sielaban.
My brother and I are linked in mind, heart and soul.
Ot ekäm sielanak kaŋa engem.
My brother’s soul calls to me.
Kuledak és piwtädak ot ekäm.
I hear and follow his track.
Saγedak és tuledak ot ekäm kulyanak.
I encounter the demon who is devouring my brother’s soul.
Nenäm ćoro, o kuly torodak.
In anger, I fight the demon.
O kuly pél engem.
He is afraid of me.
Lejkkadak o kaŋka salamaval.
I strike his throat with a lightning bolt.
Molodak ot ainaja komakamal.
I break his body with my bare hands.
Toja és molanâ.
He is bent over, and falls apart.
Hän ćaδa.
He runs away.
Manedak ot ekäm sielanak.
I rescue my brother’s soul.
Alədak ot ekam sielanak o komamban.
I lift my brother’s soul in the hollow of my hand.
Alədam ot ekam numa waramra.
I lift him onto my spirit bird.
Piwtädak ot En Puwe tyvijanak és saγedak jälleen ot elävä ainak majaknak.
Following up the Great Tree, we return to the land of the living.
Ot ekäm elä jälleen.
My brother lives again.
Ot ekäm weńća jälleen.
He is complete again.

To hear this chant, visit christinefeehan.com/members/.

4. CARPATHIAN MUSICAL AESTHETICS