The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-20
COPYRIGHTS FOR
INDIANS SONGS
Collection of Their Music is
Being Prepared
THE WORK IS DIFFICULT
Natives Are Suspicious and in Some
Cases, AS the cheyennes, There
Is Danger In the
Task.
THE WORK IS DIFFICULT

Cleveland Ohio.-A year ago the gov
eminent created a bureau under the De-
partment of the Interior to preserve ma
tive Indian songs. A few of these have
been published in connection with the
reports of the work, and 1t was not long
until they began to appear in orchestra
and opera selections. Then the govern
ment began copyrightng them. Hereafter
either the government or the poor In
dians must have credit for them when
they are used.
Harold A. Loring, at whose suggestion
this department for the collection and
preservation of Indian songs was organ
ized year ago. has been in Cleveland
a few days on his way to the west to
obtain the songs of the Uintah tribe.
Il stopped here to buy photographic
supplies for use in my work." he said.
From here I am going to the Chilocco
school in Oklahoma. and from there to
the Eintah reservation in Utah. THE
Uintahs are going to have sun dance
lasting two weeks, and this event prom
ises to offer exceptional opportunities to
obtain characteristic songs of the tribe.
Il speak the Sioux tonge, having been
with that tribe at one time for eight
months. but 1t is the most difficult task
imaginable to get the songs of the other
tribes. In the first place, | am dependent
upon interpreters and 1t takes long
time to convince the members of the
tribe that l am not hanging around for
some evil design. Then 1t is not easy to
get them to give their songs. You can't
hurry an Indian. The only thing to do
Is TO simply await your chance.
Il always aim to get one love song. one
more aggressive song. such as a hunt
Ing song perhaps, and war song.
Sometimes l get one used at some solemn
ceremony. When you get about three or
four different kinds of songs, such as |
have mentioned, you have a pretty fair
representation of the music of the tribe.
at is the plan of the department event
ually to get the songs of all the leading
tribes. Some time ago got the Cheyenne
music. 1t was not only difficult, but dan
gerous. Up there in Montana this tribe
is just as wild as they were fifty years
ago. They wear the same garb as they
did then and | did not meet more than
one two of them who knew word of
English.
II have used the photograph to some
extent. but 1t is not satisfactory, as 1t
catches too many other sounds, such as
drumbeats. shouts, barlSs of dogs and so
on. In about three times | can get the
entire song pretty accurately with pad
and pencil
''The songs are in a minor key. seldom
if ever touching a major key. The
changes of time are constant-syncopate
tme-not exactly like our ragtime, but
nevertheless the breaks come at irregular
intervals While there are a few general
characteristics OF Indian music, the songs
of different tribes are about as unlike
as those of different nations.
"The government copyrights these
songs as soon as they are published now.
After the list is complete they will be
published in government work. The
department Is having constant demands
for the use of many of the love songs
and others by comic operas. Later on
they will allow them to be used, but they
| prefer that they not be allowed to become
| common until the work has been car
ried further"