Beautiful Beyond: Christian Songs in Native Languages

by BEAUTIFUL BEYOND / VARIOUS

Overview

Released to roughly coincide with the 2004 opening of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, this assembles performances of 33 Christian hymns and songs by tribes of various regions, from Native Hawaiian and Hopi to Mohawk, Cherokee, Comanche, Navajo, Sioux, and others. These selections include both translations of traditional Christian songs into Native American languages and original compositions of Christian songs, also in Native American languages. As a social document, this is extremely important, helping to preserve and promote adaptations of religious music for indigenous cultures. Musically it's very diverse, the styles including a cappella solo singing, unison vocalizing, and harmonizing, sometimes unaccompanied, sometimes backed by basic instrumentation (most often guitar and keyboard), sung by men, women, choirs, and children (sometimes together). While the performances are almost always passionate and sometimes stirring, the breadth of approaches covered guarantees that it will be an uneven listening experience, with few listeners possessing a broad enough taste to enjoy everything. At times its primary value is folkloric rather than purely musical, as with the Kykotsmovi Mennonite Church Choir's rendition of "Silent Night" and some of the starker a cappella items. Others, though, project an undeniable beauty and committed spiritualism, whether it's the ghostly Tewa Women's Choir's "Lord Have Mercy" (backed by nothing but far-off piano and percussive rattle), the vibrato of Nalani Olds and Mauliola Aspelund, the rustic Walker Calhoun (backed by banjo), or the Kingfisher Trio's "That Heavenly Home," which might remind some listeners of the casual gospel-folk of artists like Joseph Spence. All of the tracks are quite short, none lasting for more than three and a half minutes and some for less than a minute, ensuring constant stylistic shifts that keep restlessness at bay. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	08/24/2004
Label:	Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
UPC:	0093074048023
Rank:	92882

Tracks

1. Comanche Hymn
2. Comanche Hymn
3. Kiowa Prayer Song
4. Kiowa Hymn
5. Hymn Composed by Goomdah
6. Cheyenne Hymn
7. Lord Have Mercy
8. Lord I Call
9. Having Beheld the Resurrection
10. Blessed Be Thy Name
11. Ke Aloha O Ka Haku
12. Ho'onani
13. Silent Night
14. On the Beautiful Beyond
15. In the Sweet By and By
16. Rock of Ages
17. 'Twill Be Glory By and By
18. Ise Iesos Sewenniio (Wedding Prayer Hymn)
19. Takwaienha (The Lord's Prayer)
20. Wonderful Place
21. Orphan Child
22. That Heavenly Home
23. Believing and Praying
24. Sinners Can You Hate the Savior?
25. Jesus Make the Road
26. At the Cross
27. Guide Me Oh Thou Great Jehovah
28. Heavenly Home
29. On the Jericho Road
30. Amazing Grace
31. Sweet Hour of Prayer
32. Jesus Loves Even Me
33. Communion of the Saints

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Nancy & Mark Brown   Primary Artist
Moses Starr   Primary Artist
Cherokee Choir   Primary Artist,Primary Artist
Maisie Shenandoah   Primary Artist,Primary Artist
Ojibwe Hymn Signers   Primary Artist
Kykotsmovi Mennonite Church Choir   Primary Artist
Oneida Hymn Singers   Primary Artist
Dorothy Whitehorse Delaune   Primary Artist
Liz Robert   Primary Artist
Steve Emery   Primary Artist
Mark Brown   Primary Artist,Guitar
Nancy Brown   Primary Artist,Vocal Harmony
Kathleen Thompson   Primary Artist
Moses Starr, Jr.   Primary Artist
The Martin Sisters   Primary Artist
Betty Mae Jumper   Primary Artist
Mauliola Aspelund   Primary Artist
Kingfisher Trio   Primary Artist
Long Family   Primary Artist
Members of Cedar Creek Church   Primary Artist
Cheyenne River Mission Singers   Primary Artist
Walker Calhoun   Primary Artist
Members of Rainy Mountain Church   Primary Artist
St. Herman's Seminary Octet   Primary Artist
Creg Lee Hart   Primary Artist
Cherokee National Youth Choir   Primary Artist
Margaret Mauldin   Primary Artist
Members of Petarsey Church   Primary Artist
Choctaw Community Singers   Primary Artist
TeecNosPos Gospel Melody   Primary Artist
Nalani Olds   Primary Artist
Joanne Shenandoah   Primary Artist
Akwesasne Mohawk Singers   Primary Artist
Tewa Women's Choir of San Juan Pueblo   Primary Artist
Saved by Grace Choir   Primary Artist
Steve Emery Jr.   Choir/Chorus
James Allen   Vocals
James Emery   Choir/Chorus
Dorothy Williams   Vocals
Dori Grayson   Vocals
Lori Miller   Vocals
Jack Kingfisher   Guitar,Vocals
Suzy Wills   Vocals
Karen Willis   Vocals
Beverly Thompson   Vocals
Rebecca Cook   Vocals
Lyman Choate   Vocals
Eva M. Hogue   Vocals
Patricia M. Gaines   Vocals
Mildred Ashalintubbi   Vocals
Genevieve Holt   Vocals
Sukie Wilnetta Monoessy   Vocals
Sandra Sault   Vocals
Christina Hanvey   Vocals
Tracy Pickup   Vocals
Lorene Kerchee   Vocals
Cheryl Pewewardy   Vocals
Wesley Kingfisher   Vocals
Edward J. Tahhawah Jr.   Vocals
Ramoncita C. Sandoval   Vocals
Amanda Give   Vocals,Soloist
Yvonne Monetathchi   Vocals
Agnes Ashepak   Vocals
Amelia Lewis   Piano,Vocals
Sandy Houston   Vocals
Haley Noe   Vocals
Ruby Wade   Vocals
Wilda Storey   Vocals
Rosie Yazzie   Vocals
Predad C. Antoine   Vocals
Ben Corneilous   Vocals
Gloria Dudley   Vocals
Garfield Long Sr.   Vocals
Peggy Faith Sanders   Vocals
Lena Cata   Vocals
Elizabeth Francis   Vocals
Gertrude T. Calvert   Vocals
Holly Noe   Vocals
Bernice Lazore   Vocals
D.J. McCarter   Vocals,Director
Sinaklin Forbit   Vocals
Marcus M. Boyd   Vocals
John McKinney   Vocals
Betty McLester   Vocals
Ida Mae Murdock   Vocals
Patricia Benedict   Vocals
Roserita Kidd   Vocals
Juanita Boyd   Vocals
Mary Ann Padilla   Vocals
Sherry Martin   Vocals
Anna Dale   Vocals
Lynna Pewewardy   Vocals
Dorothy Mae Armenta   Vocals
Rita Cockrum   Vocals
Shelly Johnson   Vocals
Christina Catron   Vocals
Martin "Mush" Robinson   Vocals
Thelma Myron   Vocals
Lois Powless   Vocals
Minerva White   Vocals
Mary M. Garcia   Vocals
Arlene "Ardei" Yazzie   Vocals
Theresa Long   Vocals
Rev. Martin Nicolai   Vocals
Alice Sorrelhorse   Vocals
Elidia Johnson   Vocals
Vincent Pocowatchit   Vocals
Susan Wenster Lemens   Vocals
Betty Kingfisher   Vocals
Alex Lewis   Vocals
Holly Backwater   Vocals
Louise Dreadfulwater   Vocals
Gail Long   Vocals
Doris Bilagody   Vocals
Pawnee Crabtree   Vocals
Barbara Battiest   Vocals
Josie Cornelius Daebler   Vocals
Ryan Sierra   Vocals
Leo B. Jefferson   Vocals
Carter Cornelius   Vocals
Julian Martinez   Vocals
Amos Steele   Vocals
Andrien Watkins   Vocals
Linda Hill   Vocals
Karen Williams   Vocals
Margaret Allen   Vocals
Rose Johnson   Vocals
John Haumpy   Vocals
Prudy Doxtator   Vocals
Annie Chalepah   Vocals
Arlene Collins   Vocals
Donald Horse   Vocals
Russell Feeling   Vocals
Michelle Hill   Vocals
Pearl Reid   Vocals
Rev. Thomas A. Andrew   Vocals
Martha Grow   Vocals
Nicholai Isaac   Vocals
Libby Marcus   Drums,Vocals
Austin Battiest   Vocals
Oxenia Isaac   Vocals
Carrie Horse   Vocals
Elena Nicolai   Vocals
Marian Montoya   Vocals
Harvey Williams   Vocals
Diana Mouse   Vocals
Heather Crittenden   Vocals
Harold Pewewardy   Vocals
Delores Skenandore   Vocals
Esther McKinney   Vocals
Patricia Owen   Vocals
Selena Smoke   Vocals
Derek Willis   Vocals
Sallie Kerchee Tonips   Vocals
Harding Yazzie Jr.   Vocals
Clarence "Blind Lemon" Jefferson   Vocals
Dorothy Willis   Vocals
Stella T. Vigil   Vocals
Margie Broberg   Vocals
Mary Polacca   Vocals
Mae Cole   Vocals
Kayla Sharp   Vocals
Fred Tsoodle   Vocals
Everett Corneilous   Vocals
Caroline Buffalomeat   Vocals
Felicita M. Garcia   Vocals
Delores Harragarra   Vocals
Theresa Andrew   Vocals
Judith Hampton   Vocals
Marlene Haumpy   Vocals
Leslie Ketcher   Vocals
Frank Corneilous   Vocals
Bonita Paddyeker   Vocals
Maxine Aitson   Vocals
Betty Dennison   Vocals
Gordon McLester   Vocals
Ellen Emery   Vocals
Rosalind Cata   Vocals
Querina B. Martinez   Vocals,Keyboards
Lorene Ballard   Vocals
Ashley Proctor   Vocals
Louise Ishcomer   Vocals
Melvin L. Gaines   Vocals
Nico Pewewardy   Vocals
Lucille Aitson   Vocals
Arlie Doxtator   Vocals
Dyrene "Jitter" Garfield   Vocals
Frances McCarter   Vocals
Sylvia Medina   Vocals
Paige Haines   Vocals,Soloist
Kateri "Kathleen" Thompson   Vocals
Carole LaFrance Ross   Vocals
Megan Ross   Vocals
Cleland Willis   Vocals
Eveline Steele   Vocals
Lottie Yoyokie   Vocals
Kinsey Shade   Vocals
Mark Wauahdooah   Vocals
Edward Jerome Tahhahwah Sr.   Vocals
Zelda Yoyokie   Vocals
Yvonne Skenandore   Vocals
Milt Noel   Vocals
Lula M. Bidtah   Vocals
Carolyn Bohanan   Vocals
Reannon Frazier   Vocals
Terry A. Corneilous   Vocals
Melinda Doxtator   Vocals
Twilla Jarvis   Vocals
Shirley Feeling   Vocals
Devon Kirby   Vocals
Marvin Yoyokie   Vocals
Bessie Long   Vocals
Janis McKinney   Vocals
Vanessa John   Vocals
Karl McKinney   Vocals
Hopan Emery   Choir/Chorus
Peggy Tsoodle   Vocals
Sandy Frazier   Vocals

Technical Credits

Traditional   Composer
Steve Bell   Design Supervisor
Joanne Shenandoah   Producer,Photography
John Tyler   Engineer
Pete Reiniger   Mixing,Mastering
Joseph Philbrick Webster   Composer
Robert "Jake" Jacobs   Engineer
Jim Robeson   Engineer
Ronnie Simpkins   Audio Supervisor
Mike Fisher   Engineer
Dave Goodermuth   Engineer
Dan Sheehy   Production Supervisor
D.A. Sonneborn   Production Supervisor
Jeff Place   Archivist
Public Domain   Composer
Tom Wasinger   Engineer,Producer
Terence Winch   Executive Producer
Howard Bass   Engineer,Producer,Liner Notes,Photography
Billy Brady   Engineer
Steve Emery   Engineer
Michael Kline   Engineer
Amy Pickworth   Research,Production Assistant
Edward Wapp Wahpeconiah   Liner Notes
Nicole Sieminski   Research,Production Assistant
Alexis Bierman   Research,Production Assistant
Linda R. Martin   Photography
Sinaklin Forbit   Leader
Erica Davis   Research,Production Assistant
Jack Loeffler   Engineer
Amanda Falske   Research,Production Assistant
W. Richard West, Jr.   Liner Notes
Carla Borden   Editing
Peter Seitel   Editorial Assistant
John Haumpy   Leader
Nikki Berkely   Research,Production Assistant
Norman van der Sluys   Assistant Engineer
Harriet Lafrance   Translation
Nancy Bratton   Cover Design
Fred Tsoodle   Leader
Rachel Weissman   Research,Production Assistant
Gerald L. Hill   Liner Notes
Ann Kawasaki   Research,Production Assistant
Stephanie Smith   Archivist