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Show flrT? HE United States government f'fl haS receDtIy undertaken to do I something that a great many peo- ,tV-i pie have been declaring for years past ought to be done. This is to lpSv. record and perpetuate the tribal ' music of the American Indians. All over the world people of ev-tf0fts, ev-tf0fts, erv nationality have of late years w Deen striving to perpetuate the y JIT follt 60ngs of the different races 7N that Inhabit the glob. because It ?r has come to be recognized that these primitive songs which have seldom been written but have simply been handed hand-ed down from one generation to another constitute con-stitute an invaluable link with the past. In the case of our Indians, however, in greater great-er degree perhaps than with any other primitive prim-itive people, is there need for quick work if the old songs and ancient music is to be chronicled for the benefit of future generations who will know the Indian only from books and pictures-The pictures-The Indian music alike to the folk songs of European Euro-pean nations, which have been brought to the tore in recent years, affords most interesting side-ights side-ights en the peoples in whose lives it has so long played a part and what is yet more important im-portant many of the old Indian songs have a historical significance or at least expression to traditions so interesting and poetic and beautiful beauti-ful that it would be nothing short of a calamity calam-ity were they to be lost. Aside, however, from the fact that the Indians of North America is a vanishing "race and that their music is passing with them there is yet another an-other incentive to urge energetic work now that this musical research has been undertaken in earnest. This extra spur lies in the fact that vf Tf&f4 ( J '' nri!Z HE United States government 1 .T""Ti SlU iH ' Vm ,fl nas recently undertaken to do x "3 ! ' JrU 1 1 something that a great many pec- 11 Jffht - - " I'W .:r Pie have been declaring for years , ity" V jJfr-rft ff v .,J past ought to be done. This is to " tTU'4 iXWrtfTI i LP Y ( '11 r, 'Snv rec0rd and Perpetuate the tribal 1 r fXf zt vfTTfljy I ' J iWI &. ' , 5 JU FO music of the Aican Indians 1W VZ I tit l&l T 1 All over the world people of ev UvX fflfl l& '4 )V J&7lL&S JKJA. ery nationality have of late years 11 , ' H f K & $1 5 1 0 1 1 B living to perpetuate the Uj faff vM W& ' " WW folk songs of the different lacts UVVV '$r, ?--iiM . 7(V that inhabit the glob., becaui e it Ipy r 7"""' - &r has come to be recognized that 7ir " these primitive songs which have 11 - A TYPJCAL JJYDJAM VJLLACT JV THJ seldom been written but have simply been hand- z --r' " JOr-HWOT s& ed down from one generation to another con -W- X stl.tute an invaluable link with the past. Z" ' S In the case of our Indians, however, in great ! ? v' 1 er degxee perhaps than with any other prim ' i " ' " X X - " t Xf Itive people, is there need for quick work il the A " 1 , r " " r old songs and ancient music is to be chronicled f"" ' , " r? tlr v t ) for the benefit of future generations who will f' kS" " ' 1 --'- V I &J' know the Indian only from books and pictures ?T ' ' 3 i f - " k- The Indian music alike to the folk songs of Luio- L ' tljU" i ju, pean nations, which have been brought to the IL r'rK-. T?? 4) - ( - tore in recent years, affords most interesting side h .,V f 'V ,v Jt ? ights en the peoples in whose lives it has so Ik V ' I v ? ' L!l rl'ii long played a part and what is yet more im k i, ,.7 ' 'Mit 4 C-AT? A portant may of the old Indian songs have a V' X" t ' historical significance or at least expression to . ' ,? ' nA; ' 'J" S? , traditions so interesting and poetic and beiuti , V " f I 1 Sv J ful that it would be nothing short of a calam U i , . f V 4r , J J, V ' ' J Ity were they to be lost. xW"' " " - tV 5 T JB''-XSr Aside, however, from the fact that the Indians , ' S Vijifi ' fv'f (TZJ T of North America is a vanishing "race and that U 1 T S " T f t Kjjlj -f f?&" their music is passing with them there is yet an V f - V HZiC J i 1 - f(P other incentive to urge energetic work now that V V ' "t f 1. 4 ? I) ? this musical research has been undertaken in . V 4 v if A ' J earnest. This extra spur lies in the fact that N? . 7T ' fj hSi A TYPJCAI JWASY MAACf I Ff I ? V it? there is a tremendous wealth of Indian music to musical lore can de 9 ' y $ i J4 be studied and chronicled in permanent form termine the class of Jf I ! V K59,Wr each individual tribe having had from time im a song by means of 1 ' 5 I X i ' memorial its distinctive songs and chants A the- rhythm of the " t j wlilLi '1" A 'i man who is attempting to compile a complete pic music J f V t f ftM 'v4jf -n torial record of the Indians has already spent From a technical u$ " '')', g. V V I ' twenty years in the work and it is likely that musical standpoint L4.-?!? Si v &. I L L t is much time will be required if there is to be the Indian music is f $ f VJS SCl , f'lA iVf mirrored for the benefit of future generations the very similar to the i&f ?t J-i J fe-t " v4 distinctive music of all-the various tribes. form of our own mu I A , Tf V - --Ns Private individuals, musicians or scientists, have sic The compass 1 4 fjr ? V ix-v T"1-- from time to time in the past made effort in a of the songs varies ct,v ' 'to ? v A? gV- pj? small way to perpetuate American Indian music from one to three 1 1 fV " I r"! & " - Js " and while they deserve credit for, what they octaves and some of if fli,' ktj!'ie 1 'X k SA have accomplished it is an undertaking which the songs have no 'ni"."..!. ' " through its sheer magnitude, if for no other rea- words, although this XjOAY VJ 'CSs45 3on, needs the resources of the national govern- does not seem to im- 1 1 musical lore can determine de-termine the class of a song by means of the rhythm of the music. From a technical musical standpoint, the Indian music is very similar to the form of our own music. mu-sic. The compass of the songs varies from one to three octaves and some of the songs have no words, although this does not seem to im- there is a tremendous wealth of Indian music to be studied and chronicled in permanent form, each individual tribe having had from time immemorial im-memorial its distinctive songs and chants. A man who is attempting to compile a complete pictorial pic-torial record of the Indians has already spent twenty years in the work and it is likely that is much time will be required if there is to be mirrored for the benefit of future generations the distinctive music of all-the various tribes. Private individuals, musicians or scientists, have from time to time in the past made effort in a small way to perpetuate American Indian music and while they deserve credit foi; what they have accomplished it is an undertaking which through its sheer magnitude, if for no other reason, rea-son, needs the resources of the national government. govern-ment. That it is pre-eminently a government function func-tion is likewise attested by the fact that it has promise of success only when prosecuted through che organized channels of intercourse with the Indians, channels which enable federal officials to get into the confidence of the more intellectual men of all the various tribes in a degree that would scarcely be possible except in the case of an individual who lived for many years among the Indians whose secrets he sought. The governmental study and perpetuation of Indian music is being conducted under the auspices aus-pices of the Smithsonian Institution and National Museum at Washington. The bureau of Ethnology Ethnol-ogy is the particular branch of this great seat of research- -"hich has the Indian music investigation investi-gation in charge. Probably the most interesting phase of 'the whole undertaking is that which ias to do with the activities of Miss Frances Densmore. Miss Densmore, who is an accomplished accom-plished student of music, has spent much time among the Chippewas and other tribes whose music is at once notable and representative and has recorded as many as two hundred songs belonging be-longing to a single tribe. Oddly enough the phonograph has been the :hief means of capturing the songs of the for- pair their definite meaning. There is much chorus singing among the Indians and in some tribes there, are choirs of picked singers who are paid for( their services when they appear at any formal ceremonies. It may surprise many readers to learn that some of the Indian communities com-munities are so keen for music that they even hold musical contests. A favorite form of com-, com-, petition seeks to determine which singer or group of singers can make the best showing in reproducing repro-ducing a song with accuracy after having heard it but once. v The Indian songs are the property of clans, societies so-cieties and 'ndividuals and the rights of ownership own-ership are rigidly enforced. In many instances the privilege of singing any individually-owned song must be purchased from the composer and in the case of the songs of clans not only is the right to sing the melodies restricted to members of the clan but each clan has sptcial officers , to insure the exact transmission and rendition of their songs, a fine being imposed upon any member mem-ber who makes a mistake in singing. Indian women have composed many of the best of the Indian songs, including lullabies, spinning and grinding songs and the songs of inspiration and encouragement intended to be sung to the warriors war-riors setting out for battle. It is usually difficult for a listener of another race to catch an Indian song owing to the conflicting con-flicting noise due, in a great part, to the beating of the drums. There is usually a difference in time, the drum beats being designed to govern bodily movements and mark the steps of the ceremonial dancers, whereas the song voices the emotion of the appeal. The drums may be beaten in 2-4 time and the song be in 3-4 time or the beat be in 5-8 time against a melody in 3-4 time, or the entire song may be sung to a rapid tremolo beating of the drum. The officials who have been making a study of Indian music are enthusiastic over its possibilities. They declare that not only does the field afford rich opportunities for the study of "the growth of musical form, but the Indian songs themselves offer to the present-day composer a wealth of melodic and rhythmic movements move-ments constituting a source of inspiration equal to that which has been supplied by the folk songs of Europe and vastly more serviceable in the development of a distinctive American "school" of music. 5St. There is no system of written music among nost of the tribes and the phonograph was hit upon as the only possible means of providing the means of studying the music carefully and leisurely. As may be surmised it was anything but an easy task to induce some of the more superstitious su-perstitious of the red men to sing into the strange machine or to induce them to even permit the recording apparatus to be set up within earshot of their camp fires when there was in "progress those ceremonial rites and dances which call up the musical lore of the savages. Finally, after much perseverance, however, at Indian agencies and elsewhere, the music hunters have succeeded in making a creditable beginning tn securing the priceless phonograph records of Indian music. In the case of one or two tribes the song collection of "canned music" is practically prac-tically complete. After records of Indian songs or music are secured they are transcribed in piano pi-ano score and studied scientifically. Meanwhile the collection of records will be kept on file for the benefit of the musical students of future generations who will find it a priceless boon to hear the Indian music as originally renOered. The researches which have been mad o show that Indian music is as complex as is the tribal life 5f the original Americans. An accompaniment of song is provided for every publicvceremony as well as for every important act in the career of an Individual. The music of each ceremony has its peculiar rhythm, as have also the classes of songs I which pertain to individual acts such as fasting and prayer, hunting, courtship, the playing of . games and the facing or defying of death. An I Indian cr a verson thoroughly versod in Indian |