This study examines how the Paiwan people have appropriated traditional songs to express their Christian faith and adapt them into songs that are suitable for contemporary believers to sing. The Paiwan are the second-largest Indigenous group in Taiwan, with over half identifying as Christian. The “Voice of the Mountain Hymn Evangelical Group” was founded by Chiu, Ching-hung in the late 1980s. Concerned that younger Paiwan generations were losing touch with their musical heritage, Chiu established the group to train Paiwan Christians. Around 1987, Chiu collected traditional Paiwan songs from fourteen villages. He transcribed them into numbered notations, paired them with Christian lyrics, and added several of his own compositions. These works were later published Voice of the Mountain: Paiwan Folk Hymns (Volumes I and II)—comprising a total of forty-two songs. Through its
touring performances and the publication of its songbooks, the group sparked widespread resonance among Paiwan communities. This practice not only represented a pursuit of cultural identity but also influenced the publication of the third edition of Paiwan Hymnal in 1996.
Drawing on historical recordings and songbooks unearthed in the summer of 2024, this research conducts transcription and comparative analysis to realize the methods of adaptation in Paiwan songs. Preliminary findings indicate that while the adapted songs show a tendency toward simplified glissandos and ornamentations, some include added guitar accompaniment and Western harmonization, enriching the musical texture and moving it closer to a popular music style. This study aims to contribute to understanding the appropriation of traditional music and how they have evolved over time within the global context of Christian music.