Sacred Spirit

Navajo Chants

'Yeha-Noha (Wishes Of Happiness And Prosperity)'
In the beginning, Native American chants and dances were thought to be of devil concept. But in 1995, European music producer Claus Zundel released Sacred Spirit - Chants And Dances Of The Native Americans. Taking traditional chants from the Navajo, Pueblo, Sioux tribes and combining them with Western influenced tracks.

Released in Europe in 1995 the album became an instant best-seller. The surprise hit album sold more than 7 million copies worldwide and several songs: Tor-Cheney-Nahana (Winter Ceremony), Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya (Counterclockwise Circle Dance), Dawa (The Cradlesong) did very well. But the international hit single, Yeha-Noha (Wishes Of Happiness And Prosperity) topped the Europe music charts and was 'up there' with world known music artists such as Madonna, R. Kelly and Annie Lennox.

Only three tribes have participated in allowing traditional chants to be mixed with modern instrumentation and electronic drumbeats. Yeha-Noha, Tor-Cheney-Nahana, Lay-O-Lay Ale Loya, Celebrate Wild Rice are from the Navajo Nation. Dawa is from the Pueblo Nation while the chant for Heal The Soul is from the Sioux Nation.

Throughout various parts of the album, the dialogue from 'Dances With Wolves' are heard.

A success on the Europe pop charts, Tor-Cheney-Nahana and Lay-O-Lay Ale Loya are featured on various compilation albums. Tor-Cheney-Nahana (Winter Ceremony) is featured on Ambient Moods: Chillout Tunes, Moods and Relaxations: Sound of the Ocean, Chillout Moods: Rain Dance, I Am Walking: New Native Music. Lay-O-Lay Ale Loya is featured on Native American Collection, Wolves: Original Sountrack Recording.

The cd single to Yeha-Noha (Wishes Of Happiness And Prosperity) contains several remixes such as: Yeha-Noha (Original Mix), Yeha-Noha (House Mix with Drop), Yeha-Noha (Buffalo Bump Mix), Yeha-Noha (Pow Wow Mix), Yeha-Noha (Tribal Totem Mix), Yeha-Noha (Peace Pipe Mix), Yeha-Noha (Mendelsohn Mix), Yeha-Noha (Totem Grid Mix).

The cd single to the beautiful Navajo chant was an instant sell-out. The song to Yeha-Noha begins with a quiet introduction of drums and strings and slowly increases until timpani's announces the melody of beautiful cello and violin solos. After the gorgeous melody, a voice that seems to be heard from centuries ago sings an ancient chant and cries out for hope and future for his tribe.

After each verse of the chant, his voice echoes as if determined to be heard. A chant that has withstood the test of time; a voice so filled with emotion that it moves the soul to 'happiness and prosperity'.

Yeha-Noha was so loved by many that the hit single made it onto various compilation albums such as Blanco Y Negro Mix Vol. 2, Trip Around The World, Healing (A Trip To Infinity), Most Relaxing Album In The World... Ever, World Moods, Spirits of Nature, One World, Totally ChillOut (The Essential Chill-Out Album), Survival For Tribal Peoples, Mystic Moods II, Most Relaxing Feel, Magic Mysteries 2, Chillout Moods: Tubular Bells, the chart topping single also made it onto the highly praised Pure Moods album. Dawa (The Cradlesong) made it onto Pure Moods II. Yeha-Noha created a generation of ambient music and listeners wanted more.

Sacred Spirit II - More Chants And Dances Of The Native Americans was released in 2000. Again, traditional ceremonial chants were mixed with modern instrumental arrangements and the single Dela Dela, earned its position on the recently released Pure Moods III. Yane-Heja-Hee sounds similar to the main single Yeha-Noha because the same chant source has been used as well as similar backing instruments and arrangments.

The single Yane-Heja-Hee has already been compiled onto 'All The Hits Now Inverno 2000' album, which also includes worldwide recognized artists such as Moby (Porcelain), Melanie C (I Turn To You [Hex Hector Remix]), ColdPlay (Yellow), Britney Spears (Lucky) and more, Sacred Spirit II was a nominee for the best New Age album for the 2001 Grammy's.

Information for this module was written by John Lowe. Follow the link for a wonderful insight into the Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation

AH-UH NAYAH OH-WA OH-WA
SHON-DAY OH-WA OH-WA
SHON-DAY CAN-NON NON NOHA (NOHA)

AH-UH NAYAH OH-WA OH-WA
SHON-DAY OH-WA OH-WA
SHON-DAY YEHA-NOHA (NOHA)

AH-UH NAYAY TOR-SHNA NENA-NAY-YAYAH
NENA-NAY-YAY YEHA-NOHA (NOHA)
AH-UH NAYAY TOR-SHNA NENA-NAY-YAYAH
YEHA-NOHA (NOHA)

NEE-YOH-WAH NEE-YOH
NEE-YOH-WAH NEE-YOH

AH-UH NAYAH OH-WA OH-WA
SHON-DAY OH-WA OH-WA
SHON-DAY CAN-NON NON NOHA (NOHA)

AH-UH NAYAH OH-WA OH-WA
SHON-DAY OH-WA OH-WA
SHON-DAY YEHA-NOHA (NOHA)

AH-UH NAYAY TOR-SHNA NENA-NAY-YAYAH
NENA-NAY-YAY YEHA-NOHA (NOHA)
AH-UH NAYAY TOR-SHNA NENA-NAY-YAYAH
YEHA-NOHA (NOHA)

The words above are lyrics to the international hit Yeha-Noha (Wishes Of Happiness And Prosperity). This chant is part of the Enemy Way Chant or called in the Navajo language 'Ndaa'. It is a healing song sung to cleanse and heal Navajos, often warriors who have come in contact with ghosts. Navajo veterans of the United States Armed Forces use this ceremony to purify themselves after returning from the service. The chant is sung to cleanse and heal warriors, often to a family member or loved one and is to simply wish them happiness and prosperity.

The title itself is interesting. The 'h' in Yeha is actually pronounced with an 'n' so instead of saying Yeha-Noha, it is pronounced as if saying "Yena-Noha."

This song is only supposed to be sung by a medicine man of the Navajo Nation. Kee Chee Jake is a singer of traditional Navajo songs and his voice is also heard on track 2 of Sacred Spirit with the song: Tor-Cheney-Nahana (Winter Ceremony). His vocals are featured again in "Sacred Spirit II, More Chants And Dances Of The Native Americans", on track 6: Yane-Heja-Hee.

Yane-Heja-Hee is also another winter ceremony song. Other Kee Chee Jake vocals are heard on "Navajo Songs From Canyon De Chelly," and "Brule One Nation: A Tribal Gathering Of Voices."

100% Hits: Enigmatic Hits, Volume 1
Absolument 90 (disc 2)
Ambient Moods
Chants and Dances of the Native Americans
Chillout Moods (disc 1: Tubular Bells)
Chillout Moods (disc 2: Tubular Bells)
Chillout Moods (disc 3: Rain Dance)
Chillout Moods (disc 4: Rain Dance)
Chillout Moods (disc 6: Another Green)
Escapes II
Indian's Sacred Spirit
Indians
Indians' Sacred Spirit
Indigo Spirit
Jazzy Chill Out 8
More chants and dances of the native americans
New Pure Moods (disc 1)
Pure Chillout (disc 1)
Pure Moods 2
Pure Moods II
Pure Moods III
Pure Music 2
SACRED SPIRIT (Ultimate Collection)
Sacred Spirit II: Culture Clash
Sacred Spirit II: More Chants And Dances Of The Native Americans
Sacred Spirit, Vol. 2: More Chants and Dances of Native
Sacred Spirit, Vol. 8: Jazzy Chill Out
Sacred Spirit, Vol. 9: Bluesy Chill Out
Sacred Spirit: Chants And Dances Of The Native Americans
Spirits 3
Spirits of Nature
Spirits Of Nature 1
Spirits of Nature 2
Vol 2 :More Chants and Dances of Native
Volume 2 - Legends
Volume 2 Culture Clash
Winter Ceremony (Tor-Cheney-Nahana)

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