Voices of The Creator's Children

Cherokee National Children's Choir | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 4, 2002)
• Original Release Date: February 4, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cherokee Nation
• ASIN: B000062T4A
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #392,610 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

The Cherokee National Children’s Choir is made up of children between the fifth and eighth grades from all over the Cherokee Nation. Program Director, Jamie Geneva, says that “the Cherokee National Choir reflects the richness of Cherokee pride through music performed in the native language. They are a beautiful group of children who represent our nation through their voices.” Under the instruction of Choir Director, Jan Ballou, the group has grown in popularity by leaps and bounds, with regular performances throughout the region since the group was formed in early 2000. While promoting the strength of the Cherokee Nation, the choir is “encouraging to other young kids to learn the language and culture, by our honoring of the children in the choir. Kids always like rewards,” states Cherokee Nation Communications Director, Mike Miller.

Product Description

Voices of The Creator’s Children was recorded during the summer of 2001. The 15 member children’s choir (along with guests, Kenwood Emmanuel Baptist Church Choir and the Cherokee Choir, led by J.B. Dreadfulwater) was recorded on location at the historic Park Hill Presbyterian Church, in Park Hill, Oklahoma, and at the Cherokee Nation’s council chambers in the tribal complex, with overdubs of Coolidge and other featured vocalists and musicians recorded at Cimarron Sound Lab studio, located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The project was overseen by co-producer and engineer, Jeffrey Gray Parker (who also co-owns the recording studio with his wife, Margarett), and assistant engineer, Don Morris. The CD combines traditional Cherokee gospel music, and original compositions, sung both in Cherokee and English. Coolidge is spotlighted on four of the songs on the album, including the featured radio track, “On the Road Where They Cried,” a song about the Trail of Tears that was cre! ated especially for the project, and was co-written by Geneva, Ballou and Parker. Other songs feature solo vocal performances by various members of the choir, and there is a spoken word piece delivered by Cherokee storyteller and musician, Choogie Kingfisher, which is used as an introduction to “Orphan Child.” The 13-song compact disc concludes with a bonus track, which is a stirring rendition of “Amazing Grace,” sang acappella in Cherokee, by Coolidge.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rita and the Kids sound great!, July 20, 2002

By 

Richard Livingston (Little Rock, AR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Voices of The Creator's Children (Audio CD)

The Cherokee Nation Children's Choir, with some adult choristers and Rita Coolidge, have produced a wonderful little album. Most of the songs are hymns in the beautiful Cherokee language, including a magnificent version of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," and Ms. Coolidge's a capella "Amazing Grace." It was nominated for a "Nammy" Native American Music Award, and I voted for it to win.