Earthsongs Nu'Oli (Glad Tidings) - Lowry/Saplan - SATB

Composer: Robert Lowry
Arranger: Jace Saplan
Format: Choral Octavo
Voicing: SATB a cappella

Originally known as Glad Tidings, the hymn was then translated by Lorenzo Lyons or Makua Laiana (Father Lyons), an early missionary who arrived in 1831 and spent the remainder of his life amongst the Hawaiian people. He is known for his work in translating works to the Hawaiian language and created the first hymnal entirely written in the Hawaiian language.

According to Native scholars, this passage was chosen to be sung at the first public worship of a Congregationalist church in Hawaii on April 23, 1820, which resulted in a complex history between the Hawaiian people and Christian belief, and also an origin of hymn singing in the Hawaiian language.

I arranged this piece to honor our history through the lens of a Hawaiian cultural practitioner. The arrival of the Congregationalist church in Hawaii has been fraught with controversy and trauma. Our traditions were banned, our bodies were shamed, and our souls deemed unworthy. However, this work has also brought joy. I grew up singing Nu'Oli with my mother who would sing this hymn to lull me to sleep, my grandmother who taught me this hymn on her ukulele, and like many Hawaiians, Nu'Oli was my first encounter with the hymn singing tradition. This piece helped keep our language alive and fostered connection within Hawaii. I honour the legacy of this work and the hurt and goodness that it brings. - Dr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan