Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-08-11

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
toral record OF the Indians has already spent
twenty years in the work and 1t is likely that
as much time will be required II there is to be
mirrored for the benefit of future generations tne
distinctive music OF ali the various tribes
Private individuals. musicians or scientists have
from time to time in the past made enort IN u
small way to perpetuate American Indian music
and while they deserve credit for what they
have accomplished II 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 government func
ton is likewise attested by the fact that 1t has
promise of success only when prosecuted through
the organized channels OF intercourse with the
Indans,-channels which enable federal offcials
to get into the confidence of the more intellectual
men of all the various tribes in a 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
pices 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 inyesti-
CATION in charge Probably the most interesting
phase OF the whole undertaking is 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 Chppevas and other tribes whose
music is at once notable and representative and
has recorded as many two hundred songs be-
longing 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 the tribes and the phonograph was hit
upon as the only possible means OF providing
the means of studying the music carefully and
lesurely As may be surmised it was anything
but an easy task to induce some of the more su-
persttious of the red to sing into the strange
machine or TO induce them TO even permit the
recording apparatus be set up within earshot
of theE 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 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 is prac
tically complete. After records Of Indian songs
or music are secured they are transcribed in p
ano score and studied scientifically. Meanwhile
the collection of records will be kept on file for
the benefit of the musical students OF future
generations who will find it priceless boon TO
hear the Indian music as originally rendered
The researches which have been mad e show that
Indian music is as complex is the tribal life
OF the original Americans. An accompaniment OF
song is provided for every public ceremony as
well as for every important act in the career OF
individual The music OF each ceremony has its
peculiar ythm as have also the classes OF songs
which pertain TO Individual acts such as fasting
and prayer hunting. eourtship the playing OF
games and the facing defying of death. An
indian or 4 person thoroughly versed in Indian