The Red Cloud chief., 1911-08-17
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there is a tremendous wealth OF Indian music to
be studied and chronicled In permanent form.-
each individual tribe having had from time I'M
memorial its distinctive songs and chants
man who is attempting to compile complete pic
torial record OF the Indians has already spent
twenty years in the work and It Is likely that
as much time will be required II there Is to be
mirrored for the benefit of future generations the
distinctive music Of all the various tribes.
Private individuals, musicians or scientists. have
from time to time in the past made effort In
small way to perpetuate American Indian music
and while they deserve credit for what they
have accomplished 1t is an undertaking which
through its sheer magnitude. II for no other rea
son, needs the resources Of the national govern.
ment. That It Is pre.eminently a government func-
ton is likewise attested by the fact that It has
promise Of success only when prosecuted through
tho organized channels Of intercourse with the
Indans.-channels which enable federal officials
to get into the confidence OF the more intellectual
men 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
the Indians whose secrets he sought.
The governmental study and perpetuation OF
Indian music Is being conducted under the aus.
pces Of the Smithsonian Institution and National
Museum at Washington. The bureau Of Ethnol'
ogy Is the particular branch Of this great seat
of research which has the Indian music investi-
cation In charge. Probably the most interesting
phase of the whole undertaking 10 that which
has to do with the activities OF Miss Frances
Densmore. Miss Densmore who Is an accom-
plished student Of music has spent much time
among the Chippewas and other tribes whose
music Is at once notable and representative and
has recorded as many as two hundred songs be-
longing to a single tribe.
Oddly enough the phonograph has been the
chief means Of capturing the songs OF the Tor
est There is no system Of written music among
most of the tribes and the phonograph was hit
upon as the only possible means Of providing
the means OF studying the music carefully and
leisurely. As may be surmised 1t was anything
but an easy task to induce some OF the more su'
perstitious OF the red to sing into the strange
machine or to induce them to even permit the
recording apparatus to be set up within earshot
OF their camp fires when there was 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 a creditable beginning
in securing the priceless phonograph records OF
Indian music. In the case OF one or two tribes
the song collection Of canned music" 10 prac-
tically complete. After records OF Indian songs
or music are secured they are transcribed In pi'
ano score and studied scientifically. Meanwhile
the collection OF records will be kept on hle for
tho benent of the musical students Of future
generations who will nnd 1t priceless boon to
hear the Indian music as originally rendered.
The researches which have been mad show that
Indian music Ia ~ complex as 10 the tribal life
of the original Americans. An accompaniment OF
song 10 provided for every public ceremony 40
we'll 40 for every important act In the career OF an
individual. The music Of each ceremony has it,
peculiar rhythm 40 have also the classes OF songs
which pertain to individual acts such 40 fasting
and prayer, hunting, courtship. the playing OF
games and the facing or defying OF death An
Indian or usrsou thoroughly vsrssd In Indian