BEAUTIFUL BEYOND: Christian Songs in Native Languages

Presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. This anthology of hymns and songs from Native American communities throughout the United States demonstrates how music has helped to preserve and perpetuate Native languages. Singers from the Southeast to the Plains and from the Southwest to Alaska and Hawai’i demonstrate the dynamic interplay between language and faith, and show the importance placed on the singing of these songs in keeping alive the culture embodied in their Native languages.

Comanche Hymn Members of Petarsey Church (Comanche) 02:14

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Comanche Hymn Members of Petarsey Church (Comanche) 01:48

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Kiowa Prayer Song Dorothy Whitehorse DeLaune 00:39

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Kiowa Hymn Members of Cedar Creek Church (Kiowa) 02:33

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Kiowa Hymn by Goomdah Members of Rainy Mountain Church (Kiowa) 02:55

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Cheyenne Hymn Moses Starr, Creg Lee Hart (Southern Cheyenne) 02:43

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Lord Have Mercy (from Tewa Mass) Tewa Indian Women's Choir 01:14

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Lord I Call St. Herman’s Seminary Octet (Yup’ik) 00:56

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Having Beheld the Resurrection St. Herman’s Seminary Octet (Yup’ik) 01:21

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Blessed Be Thy Name St. Herman’s Seminary Octet (Yup’ik) 00:47

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Ke Aloha O Ka Haku: Lili’uokalani’s Prayer Nalani Olds (Native Hawai’ian) 01:56

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Ho’onani Nalani Olds and Mauliola Aspelund (Native Hawai’ian) 00:50

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Silent Night Kykotsmovi Hopi Mennonite Church Choir 02:15

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On the Beautiful Beyond Oneida Hymn Singers 03:09

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In the Sweet By and By Ojibwe Hymn Singers 02:04

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Rock of Ages Maisie Shenandoah, Liz Robert, Joanne Shenandoah (Oneida) 03:12

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Twill Be Glory By and By The Martin Sisters (Mohawk/Six Nations Reserve) 03:00

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Ise Iesos Sewenniio (Wedding Prayer Hymn) Kathleen Thompson 02:45

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Takwaienha (The Lord’s Prayer) Akwesasne Mohawk Singers 02:49

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Wonderful Place Cherokee Choir 01:41

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Orphan Child Cherokee Choir and Cherokee National Youth Choir 02:36

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That Heavenly Home The Kingfisher Trio 02:26

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Believing and Praying Margaret Mauldin (Creek) 02:40

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Sinners Can You Hate the Savior? Choctaw Community Singers 02:39

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Jesus Made the Road Betty Mae Jumper 01:15

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At the Cross Nancy and Mark Brown (Eastern Band Cherokee) 01:32

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Guide Me, Jehovah Walker Calhoun (Eastern Band Cherokee) 02:34

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Heavenly Home The Long Family (Eastern Band Cherokee) 02:51

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On the Jericho Road Saved by Grace Choir (Navajo) 03:30

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Amazing Grace Saved by Grace Choir (Navajo) 01:32

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Sweet Hour of Prayer TeecNosPos Gospel Melody (Navajo) 03:04
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Jesus Loves Even Me Steve Emery (Cheyenne River Sioux) 01:46


Communion of the Saints Cheyenne River Mountain Singers (Sioux) 02:59