World Music Selections

An original melody hailing from the traditional Acadian and Quebecois practice of turlutte (mouth reel or mouth music), this sparkling a cappella work imitates an instrumental reel or jig with

With the traditional Latin lyrics "Gloria in excelsis Deo," this setting is anything but traditional. Including some chant as well as stomping and clapping throughout, this almost has the feel of a Maori

Originally known as Glad Tidings, this hymn was translated by Makua Laiana, an early missionary who arrived in Hawai'i in 1831 and spent the remainder of his life amongst the Hawaiian people.

This mid-tempo South African song is hymnlike with beautiful full harmonies in an a cappella divisi choral texture. The text, in Afrikaans, is about the darkness of night and... view details

This setting of a Buddhist recitation creates a mesmerizing layered texture that is accompanied only by the constant beating of a temple block. The otherwise a cappella harmonies use repeated motives and

Based on a famous traditional Korean children's song, this creative setting for a cappella mixed choir with bongos and woodblock utilizes a whole-tone scale and text painting. The Korean lyrics use

Dvorak's V Prirode ("From Nature") is a five-song set of Romantic-era part-songs on Czech texts by Vitezslav Halek. These two songs are part of that set and can be performed as a set or as

Partnered with Nguoi O Dung Ve (Do Not Leave Me) in a set of two traditional Vietnamese folk songs, this gentle piece tells the story of two young lovers who must meet in secret at a bridge where

This Pakpaknese folk song from North Sumatra, Indonesia is commonly performed at wedding celebrations, opening ceremonies, and cultural events in the region, often accompanied by traditional dancing. By

In this traditional Armenian folk lullaby, a mother seeks to lull her restless son to sleep with the aid of a singing nightingale. The gentle lyrical lines sing so beautifully, featuring first the upper

Based on three Maori whakataukil (proverbs) found hanging in the Christchurch Cathedral in New Zealand, this piece has taken on significance as a lament both for the composer's father and the

One of a large body of songs attributed to Purandara Daasa Vitthala, a key figure in the history of South Indian music. He wrote thousands of devotional songs, many of which address social and moral

Birds have always been a popular theme of many Samoan folk songs, so it comes as no surprise that the American Sunday school song Little Birdie in the Tree was adopted and taught widely to Samoan

Part of a set of two traditional Vietnamese folk songs that also includes Qua Cau Gio Bay (The Wind on the Bridge), this beautiful a cappella divisi arrangement portrays the story of two lovers

This work, inspired by Mexican culture's perspectives on death, is written for choir and indigenous instruments, including: three ayoyotes, one ocarina, one death flute and one teponaztli, which are played

This work is based on a legend of the Rukai of Taiwan, a tribe of indigenous people. The story tells of a princess who secretly falls in love with the snake lord of the Ghost Lake. Opening with a soprano

Literally meaning "songs of a circle," these folk songs of Brazil are usually performed by children in a circle. These five pieces - Pai Francisco; Terezinha de Jesus; Pirulito Que Bate, Bate; 

This song represents Egyptian life at the beginning of the 20th century. This setting uses the original melody created by Egyptian composer Sayyid Darwish but arranges the work for mixed a cappella voices,

This work is an exploration of sounds with human voice. The text is taken from the terminology used for various Malay traditional dance movements. Inspired by an exotic Indonesian Malay scale, the music

You can almost hear the yodeling in this lighthearted setting of the traditional Austrian carol. Symbolism abounds in the verses which alternate with the dance-like refrain: "Diridiri, hallelujah, dirdiri,

This original concert work captures the exuberance and revelry of a great celebration. Sudden dynamic shifts, contrasting articulations, and shifting polymetric rhythms occur throughout, culminating in a

This Yiddish folk song, which originated in Eastern Europe, is a variation on the common theme of a spurned lover, but with a twist at the end! A full English singable translation is provided in the score,

An exciting a cappella choral texture surrounds this setting of words that Korean children chant, similar to when American children yell Abracadabra and expect magic to ensue. The tempo is marked