New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-30

the ceremonial hymn printed herewith, which begins
obviously enough In the key OF Bhat major and ends
Just as Enthusiastically in CmaJor, after hurried side
wise excursions into several other keys.
As to the songs printed herewith. They al
religious. Two may be described examples Of In
dlydua devotion the third Is ceremonial, liturgic,
What have called the Omaha "Kyre Eleison,7 Misc
Fletcher calls simply the Omaha prayer. 1t Is The
one song which Is common property. All Omaha
children learn 1t, and Is the youths form OF sup
piicatiOn until, through the medium OF "A vision, he
acquires IA personal formula lis meaning IS simple
and comprehensive Wakanda' e" The Power that
makes" says Miss Fletcher, the Great Mysterious
Power, says j. owen Dorsey, Il am poor have pity
me!- That Is all This prayer the Omaha child
Is taught when clay is put his head and little
bow and arrows (which are not to be- used how!
ever are given 10 him by bis father. Later when
he Is to enter upon mans estate, he IL SEMI alone
10 some solitary spot that, through lasting and
day he lives thus alone eating nothing drinking Moth
Inc, repeating the prayer Wakanda thae,thu wi-pa-1
wardci by VISION which Is afterwdrd Incorporated
In song which becomes his personal prayer and Is
thereafter used whenever guidance is sought before
an enterprise Is undertaken such prayer Is the
companyin " Horse Mystery song the meaning VI
which Mr.. La tlescne gave me- ~ follow: Nun-gae,
Dor,es rum sha-ta ma there they Ro). shon gaes
jhor,cl. "we-ta' UnInc). Ji-hun-ca" lnrst thin
hel ae- ma dh%y sayl That IS TO say. the pray.
ANIMAL ahead. Thereafter he uses this formula when
praying for help success and these gi1s 10
De Won through his morse.
Mr.. Fillmore has suggested that the singular effect
Of the beginning in d time i eXempitcaton VI
the Indians sense for descriptive music. The horses
do get into their regular stride until the regular
C- tim, Is reached The harmonies, printed. are
all Mr.. F1mOres. 1t should be- understood that AL
indian songs sung In unison. with accompan
nient save drum-beat>. The rhythm of the drum
Leafs Mr.. Fillmore has indicated in the notes for the
left hand.
The third hymn. whose interesting harmonic char.
has been indicated, l. OF the songs sung 10
connection with the ceremonies which are performed
with the peace pipes % the Omahas-symbols or
great Significance and article, OF real beauty strictly
speaking. they not pipes nj all. but pt,stems,
richly decorated with eagle feathers. and steamers.
terminating In a carved birds head Instead oil
bowl The religious significance OF these symbols ana
the nature of the ceremonies performed with uem
were set forth by Miss Fletcher In essay ell
titled Politics and HpeDancing,' printed In The
Century Magazine last January. The presentation of
gifts has much 10 do with these so-caed "wa-wan'
ceremonies. Mr. La Flesche. in interpreting the SONG.
are archaic and their literal meaning Is lost. In the
iresent the sentiment OF the song might thus Do
summed up: This Is what ! mean, this Is what !
give you.' The music accompanies the swaying OK
the pipes by the leaders I'm the ceremonies and has lne
support Of gourd ratles well as drums.
The appOggatura which enters In the second measuro
and + repeated In the third fifth seventh eighth ana
ninth IS in effect syncopation, and IS intoned ABOUT
a quarter OF tone above the pitch as Representa-
T.. h.