Smithsonian - Perishable Pundit

Ralph Rinzlersongs are "made" (or created) bylince Redhonse (Navajo),I20]Memorial ConcertMark ¡milNancy Brown(Eastern Band Cherokee),Robbinsville, North CarolinaThe Browns «ere born and raisedin the are.i around Robbinsville,known .is the Snowbird region,where Cherokee tradition andlanguage remain strong. They singold i'herokee hymns that dateto the I'lth century and earlier.with tunes that arc familiar fromother Christian churches. Whilethe singing is in Cherokee, thestyle is strongly reminiscentof the southern Appalachiansinging of the tarter Family. TheBrowns can be heard on BeautifulBeyond and have also recordedan album called /'// Fly Away:Hymns in the Cherokee Language.Comanche Hymn Singas,Lawton, OklahomaIhe Comanche Hymn Singers arefrom IVtarscv United MethodistChurch m the heart of Comanchemembers of the church, unlikethose in many other Indianchinches, where missionariestranslated common hymns fromEnglish to the local Indianlanguage. Most of the singers aremembers ot the Pewewardy familyand are related by bloi id andmarriage. They are featured on theSmithsonian Folkways recording.Beautiful Beyond ChristianHymns in Native LanguagesMaria Nauni (Comanche/Seneca), Cache, OklahomaMaria Nauni has a degree inbusiness from the Universityof ( H.lahoma and now ispursuing a master's degree inbusiness administration Sheworks as an education specialistfor the Comanche Nation'sOffice of Higher Education.In February 2004 she releaseda recording called ComancheHymns performed by Maria Nauni,w hk h was nominated in theTucson, ArizonaVmce Redhouse was born andraised in California, amemberof a family ot musicians thatincludes his brother. Larry, a jazzpianist: sisters and singers Maryand Charlotte; and brothers Tonyand Lenny, both percussionists.The family recorded a highlyacclaimed album. Í 'rban Indian,tor Canyon Records ini'>( life Every Nation. As a soloist.Vince primarily performs classicalmusic, traditional hymns, .\nc\contemporary spiritual compositionsby guitaristHe will be accompaniedMatt Mitchelli < luntry. In such churches, thesinging is congregational; after theleader sings the hrst tewwords,the whole congregation will joinin In Comanche churches, thebest traditional vocals categoryitMilwaukee's 2004 IndianSummer Musk Awards She has1 .i> tied w idely as a performer,speaker, model, and actressMark and Nancy Brownwillperform old Cherokeehymns that date from theearly 19th century.SMITHSONIAN FOLkLIFE FESTIVAL