The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-08-13
PROF. FISCHER WILL WRITE
WEIRD SONGS OF INDIANS
Talented Musician Returns to This CITY With
Records For History of First
Americans

Prof. Edgar S. Fischer, who for the
past three months has been engaged in
recording the songs of the Sioux In
dams of South Dakota and the Flat
head and KooteEia Indians of Montana
returned to the city Sunday
Il believe the music of the Indians
will have a decided effect on Ameri-
can composers" said Mr. Fischer in
discussing the Indian music, this
morning.
In the Indian music 1 can see GER
stain elements which in the hands of a
into something very fine.
This may take great while but
think in time the Indian influence
on American music will be strong. By
a study of it, certain elements of
rytlm can be found which, while
small in themselves, suggest much.
The themes of the red mans music
may also be worked up to advantage.
while the effect may not be along
any of the lines mentioned the general
make, is bound to be shown strongly
in American composition.
Great Imagination.
Speaking of his impressions of the
Indians, Mr. Fischer said:
Il was greatly surprised at the vivid
imagination displayed by the Indians
as expressed in their songs and le-
gends. They have greater imaginatior.s
than any other people,"
Mr.. Fischer in company with a party
consisting of E. S. Curtice, Prof.
Meany, a man by the name of Myers,
who is collecting Legendary lore of the
Indians, a cook and a Crow Indian,
who was familiar with the sign lang
uage and who was known as Upshaw,
first went to the Pine Ridge reserva-
remained for about three weeks during
which time Prof. Fischer was busy
early and late recording the songs OF
the Sioux.
III speaking of his work there this
morning, he said:
when we arrived at Pine Ridge
agency. Mr.. Curtis, who had been
there before and who was out for
pictures, Immediately hunted up his
friends and got buy. 1t did not take
would sing and they would frequently
tell me of others who would sing, so ir.
a short time l did not have a great
deal of trouble locating singers.
Up to the Times.
"They were not in the least BASH
full about performing. They sang pure
ly from a mercenary motive and re-
ceived for their singing all the way
from $3.50 to $500 per song, according
to the length of time kept them sing
ing.
ITO record a song I would have it
sung several times while 1 copied it.
Then l would attempt to sing it and
would keep at it until 1 had each note
correct. 1 picked up the songs every
where 1 could get an Indian to sing,
SolIlClIlIicS III Tie "dSOil, SolACtiiiCS ia
a teepee, or out behind a log shack.
THE Sioux Indians are a very in
telligent and fine looking race of In
dams, and are much superior to the
western tribes. To interpret for me
1 had a Grow Indian who could carry
on conversation in the sign language.
While one tribe cannot understand
the language of another. the sign lang
uage is common all over the plains.
However, it was not common to me.
but l could talk more Sioux than could
my Crow interpreter.
Differences In Songs.
1.-The great differences between the
songs of the Sioux and those of the
Flatheads are that while the greater
part of the songs of the Sioux have
words, the reverse is true of the songs
of the Flatheads. Also the songs of
the Sioux are nearly all in the minor
while those of the Flatheads vary
more in the major scale. Koontnai /
songs are very familiar to those of the
F1atheads.
THE songs of the Sioux are chief
1y about war and horse stealing. For
instance, at a scalp dance, buck who /
was particularly proud of some horse /