BYU-Hawaii has released Naleo Malu: Voices of Peace, a music compact disc of sixteen selections that were featured on the recently completed Concert Choir tour to Japan and Korea.
Referred to as a "center of excellence" by President Eric B. Shumway, the Concert Choir has been under the baton of Dr. James A. Smith, director of choral and vocal activities at BYU-Hawaii since 1976. After leading the choir on three international tours to the South Pacific and Asia, he considered the 2004 tour as his "farewell song." For the tour, he rendered an international repertoire varying from light-hearted folk melodies to raucous contemporary renditions to stirring cultural anthems.
"The selections on this CD represent a truly outstanding achievement for the BYU-Hawaii choral department in the variety and vitality of pieces that were on this tour," Smith said.
"The international folk music represents the multicultural makeup of our university and we particularly enjoyed learning and performing two of the best-known folksongs from Japan and Korea respectively, Sakura and Arirang," Smith added. "Jon Holloman, with his years of experience recording for BYU in Provo, Utah was a tremendous asset to us in putting this CD together."
Live audiences in the United States and Asia were moved by and commented on O Magnum Mysterium, by Morten Lauridsen, which portrays the wondrous scene of Christ's birth in the stable surrounded by lowly animals.
"Dr. Smith and the fifty members of the Concert Choir worked determinedly to produce a powerful record of their tour repertoire," said Joel Kongaika, manager of Asia Tour 2004 and the CD project. "Others will agree in saying that they succeeded in appropriating a nice mixture and balance of genres."
"The choir was well received on the tour to Japan and Korea as half a dozen esteemed halls were packed to capacity with captivated audiences. The choir and the tour lives on in this musical recording. I invite all to support their continued success by purchasing this truly BYU-Hawaii brand gift," Kongaika said.
The CD also features piano pedagogy major Chad Schumacher performing Bach's Partita No. 2 in C Minor. A native of Kauai, Schumacher will graduate on June 19 and will attend the prestigious Eastman School of Music in the fall.
To order:
For all orders, please click on the following BYU-Hawaii Bookstore link or utilize the following contact information:
Phone: (808) 293-3563, Fax: (808) 293-3598, Email: bookstore@byuh.edu
BYU-Hawaii Bookstore, BYUH #1961, 55-220 Kulanui St., Laie, HI , 96762
To view the Asia Tour official website visit the following link.