The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-09-02
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there is a tremendous wealth of Indian music to
De stndzed and chronicled in permanent FORM
esen ihnSh1ual tribe having had from time i'm.
nemor11f nx distinctive songs and chants. A
man vhr y attempting to compile complete pic
torial rsrnrd of the Indians has already spent
WenN Senrs In the work and 1t is likely that
a. much time will be required If there is to be
mfrrured FOX the benefit of future generations the
dscncf1Re music of all the various tribes
fFva6s individuals musicians or scientists have
nom rsne To time In the past made effort in a
small way TO perpetuate American Indian nus,c
and whz1s they deserve credit for what thew
nave ~<nnmpiished 1t is an undertaking which
nroo8n AZ sheer magnitude, II for no other rea-
son. neel1S the resources of the national govern.
menI 1nAf 1t Is pre-eminenty government func-
uoh - nkrwase attested by the fact that 1t has
pfunAe N Success only when prosecuted through
the orsznt1ed channels of intercourse with tie
molanSs-enAunels which enable federal officials
20 80 s1fn The confidence of the more intellectual
men a an the various tribes in a degree that
WOMB scarcely be possible except In the case of
sHi VINO lived for many years among
tne maa.ms whose secrets he sought
The governmental study and nernetuat;or -,
inomn Mns,c Is being conducted under the ans
pacea on the Smithsonian Institution and National
Auss0m at Washington. The bureau of Ethno,
osS - the particular branch of this great seat
- which mas the Indian music investi-
CATION m charge. Probably the most interesting
Phase on the whole undertaking is that which
mas IN 90 with the activities of Miss Frances
Densmne Miss Densmore, who is an accom-.
PINNED sfudent of music, has spent much time
smonx the Chippewas and other tribes whose
muse y al once notable and representative and
mas recHszisd as many as two hundred songs be-
longing b a single tribe
oddly enough the photograph has been the
ensf means OF capturing the songs of the for
OK Ihere 10 no system of written music among
mosS of NE tribes and the photograph was hit
upon a. tho only possible means of providing
s @e neans OF studying the music carefully and
ieaSuke1J- As may be surmised 1t was ANYTHING
DuA n snHv task 10 induce some of the more su.
PERFUMES q the red men to sing into the strange
'nscnme q % induce them to even permit the
Eeeosomg apparatus to be set up within earshot
o. m<r camp fires when there was in progress
lnoss eerensonial rites and dances which call nm
NE nazssc1l lore Of the savages.
k1nzlly. after much perseverance, bovov. :.
indian auzncies and elsewhere, the music hunters
nave sunu1need in making creditable beginning
u secG the priceless photograph records of
mann n1znsc- In the case of one or two trbea
ne sunx collection of canned music" is nrac.
'esin eSmpaete- After records OF Indian songs
= nAes5 are secured they are transcribed in pi-
mo score and studied scientifically. Meanwhile
ne coecuon OF records will be kept on file for
ne osnent OF the musical students of future
enef1Asons VINO viii find 1t priceless boon To
ear the Indian music as originally rendered.
me resszrches which have been mad show that
aoian music Is as complex is the tribal life
u'e q fkin1i Americans An accompaniment of
ing Is prOrided for every public ceremony aa
ell as mn every important act In the career ~ a..
ldfvidnaA The music of each ceremony has its
ecunzr r1yehm, as have also the classes of songs
nfch pert1an to individual acts such as fasting
"a ps1yez. hunting courtship the PLAYING Of ,
snass s.d The facing defyins Of death An
aAaA = person thoroughly vsrsed In Indian