The Forrest City times., 1911-08-11

Gbere is tremendous wealth of Indian music to fss studied and chronicled in permanent form sssch individual tribe having had from time I'm. uzsmorial its distinctive songs and chants A rssau who Is attempting to compile complete pie. forial record of the Indians has already spent t@enty years in the work and it= is likely that a Enoch time will be required if there is to be un1rrored for the benefit of future generations the distinctive music of all the various tribes
 prfVate individuals. musicians or scientists. have Trum time to time in the past made effort in sssaalI way to perpetuate American Indian music ard while they deserve credit for what they have accomplished tt is undertaking which through it's sheer magnitude If for nc other req son needs the resources of the national govern EAeHt That 1t is pre-eminently government fune- ton Is likewise attCsted by the fact that It has promise of success only when prosecuted through Ghe organized channels of intercourse With the Infians.-channels which enable federal officials eo gct into the confidence of the more intellectual of all the various tribes in degree that would scarcely be possible except in the case of an Individual who lived for many years among khe Indians whose secrets he sought
 The governmental study and Ierpatuation of Indian music is being conducted under the aus nlces of the Smithsonian Institution and National Noseum at Washington. Tbe bureau of Ethnol sogY IS the particular branch el this great seat of research which has the Indian music tnYest- aation in charge Probably the most interesting phase of the whole undertaking is chat which
 
 DeBsmore Miss Deusmore. who Is an accom-. pNshed student of music. has spent much time among the Chippewas and other tribes whose music is at notable and representative and has recorded many two hundred songs be longing to single tribe
 Oddly enough the phonograph has been the chief means of capturing the songs of the for est There Is no system of written music among most of tho tribes and the phonograph hit uPon as the only possible means of providing the means of studying the music carefully and seisurely. As may be surmised 1t anything hut easy task to induce some of the more pefstitious of the red to sing into the strange machine or to induce them to permit the recording apparatus to be set up within earshot of their camp fires when there 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 ereditahe beginning fu securing the priceless phonogTaph records of Indian music. In the of one two tribes Che song collection of canned music is prac- tically complete. After records of Indian songs music secured they transcribed in pi- ano score and studied scientifically. Meanwhile tae collection of records will be kept on file for ehe benefit of the musical students of future generations who will find il priceless boon to bear the Indian music originally rendered.
 The researches which have been mad e show that kndian music is complex is the tribal life of the original Americans An accompaniment Of song is provided for every public ceremony as well for every important act in the career of Individual The music of each ceremony has it's peculiar rhythm. have also the classes of songs which pertain to individual acts such fasting and prayer. hunting, eourtship. the playing Of games and the facing defying of death. An Indian or person thoroughly yeTsed in Indian