The sun., 1908-04-05
RECORDS OF INDIAN MUSIC
NATIVE SONGS PRESBRIED BY
TEE PH0NOGRAPH,


BthnoloEy TO register the native songs
Of the Indians. Several hundred songs
have thus been obtained and u IL designed
10 secure the most complete record possible
Of the vanishing melodies.
These Indian bonEs A. transcribed from
the phonogrRph records have eliolted the
interest not only Of scientists but OF pro-
fsssional musicians as well. Credit for the
records ls due 10 Mlhs Alice Fletcher, an
employee OF the bureau. who for number
oiyears has interested herself In the subject
Of Indian music.
In the records Of the talking machine
Indian music has for the hrst time been
recorded in q satisfactorily authentic man
ner and the tranSohptiont which have
been made from them are scientifically
accurate. The Indians have no musical
notation and apparently no theories OF
music. Their songs are handed down by
tradition and the photograph will be OF
great value in perpetuatIng them.
Contrary 10 what have found TO be
general impression among those ignorant
Of the subject said Mas Fletcher. the
sonEs Of the Indians are not meaningless
chants. devoid Of sweetness power and
expression.
sThe Indian is a natural musician. On
transcribinE a number Of these songs,
for instance. a striking circumstance was
noted, namely. the use Of the major chords
OF the over third and under third. As you
probably know this is one Of the most not
able characteristics Of our modern romantic
composers.
we And more or lees Of II In Beethoven
and Schubert, still more In Schumann
and Chopin. most Of all In Wagner and
Liszt. This fact shows, | believe, that
the Ereat romantic writer's In going outside
Of the accepted harmonic limits made
genuine discovery Of natural harmonic
relations. This has long been the belief
Of q number OF musicians. but these Indian
songs afford strong confirmation OF the
justness Of the theory. for whatever else
they are there can be no question that
they are absolutely natural.
what may be called the opening Of the
wa-wan or Pipe Of Peace choral reminds
one strongly Of numerous passages In
Wagner. Yet IL ID perhaps more daring
than any Of that masters compositions.
for II Ia a twelve measure song beginning
in nat and ending In G.
Surely this compositon is worthy OF
the attention Of every student OF harmony
a we'll as Of the scientist. II seems bold
statement to make, but II Is one amply
| iustihed, that all melodio and harmonic
resources to be found IN our music espe-
cially the most modern and advanced,
are also 10 be found 10 this primitive music
among a people who have no musical nota-
ton, no musical theoties, no SystematIzed
scientific knowledge OF IT,
sNor is It in harmony alone that this
Indian music reminds US 81 the present day
uItra romantioists a. well as older masters.
The Indian rhythme are treqlently as com
! hlioated and difficult az any " be found IN
| ths works Of Schumann and Chopin,
Il have, for example, songh simulating
nrecisely the rhythm OF some OF Mepdels-
sohnR Songs Without Words, as we'll as
| ~ comnoeitions by Schurnann and pieces
Of the modern aud most advanced school.
! One rhythmic popularity OF some OF the
Sonrs h the frequent use OF a short note on
the drumbeat or emphatic portion oi the
measure. eVactly such as We ma employed
In ancient Scotch music.
aFSarv tribe has hundreds of original
sonRs which are its heritage. Many OF
them have been handed down through
generations and not only embody the feel
in1 Of the composer but record some past
event or experience among the tribe or clan.
The nsople treasure them and great care
Il taken to transmit them accurately
ave with our written music have a
mechanical device by which a tone may be
uniformly produced, a. BY the vibrations
Of a chord Of giyeo length and tension, thi,
tone becoming the standard py ,which all
othsrs On n be regulated. The Indians have
no sllch mechanism for determining pitch
and the,s il no uniform key for song
yhioi Ial St 5ta.tsd on any note s,,::@Sle tS
the singers voice.
sYet the songs, a. IL shown 0onolusiyely
hv souna Of the phonoEraphic records which
have been obtained from different singers
are repeated without any material varia-
ton. Men with good voices take pride 10
accuracy Of singing, and often have In theiI
memories several hundred songs, INCLUDING
many. from tribes with the % emenoers OF "n'cr
they have exchanged visits.
sThs Indians did not object TO having the
music OF some Of their solemn ceremonial
rites reproduced by the photograph, but
on the contrary were kind enough 70 accedt
/ 10 INV requests for the obtaining Of good
records. Perhaps that of the Calumet oI
Ws-wan ceremony Ia the most notable oI
these specimens Of what may b called
Indian sacred music.
THE music is diknie ed and impressive
throughout In some parts Btriklngly beau
tiflIl. although the phonograph has moi
been as successful here az in instances u
which a single singer has made the record
An accurate transcript has, however beer
made from the machine Of this wonderful
melodc expression Of Peace on earth, gooC
will toward men,.
II il interesting TO hear Misl Fletohel
tell how she came to acquire an interest II
Indian music.
THE first occasion she says, on Thlcf
I attended one Of their ceremonies ! wa
S.,;-inIy not ;Syorsbly impressed With th'
music. Indeed, was nearly frightened 4
death by the whole ArrmGement, savag'
; and barbarous in the extreme TO my unini
, tiated eyee and ears.
sConcening the music Cleaned the i'm
precision that while Il might potsess a Ger
tain degree Of simple rhythm u had littl'
melody, the few tones being iterative ant
almost II not quite lackipR n expression
But some songs WHICH ! had heard oeior'
while ] was living among my IndiaI
friends was stricken with severe Illness
and law for months miniatered TO largel!
, by my companions Of tho Omaha tribe
, IA was thus shut In from all the world
: the Indians coming and going about m,
9 in theiT affectionate solicitude, would esl
' them to sing to me, Beosuse was weak
a | suppose, they sang ssftly. There va
none Of the distraotine drum, and, devote
n | Of the barbarous noise which had diapleaseC
7 me, I realized the sweetness, the beauty sn'
! the meaning Of those wonderful sohgs.
, aColor and dramatic action are msrket