The Chanute times., 1911-08-11
Il ZroIC4L ID.lI4>Y NZLAGE

there is a tremendous wealth Of Indian music to
be studied and chronicled in permanent form'-
each individual tribe having had from ume, 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 If there Is to De
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 eHort 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 If 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
Indians-channels which enable federal of1clais
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 perpetuatlon OF
Indian music is being conducted under the aus
pices of the Smithsonian Institution and Natlonal
Museum at Washington. The bureau or Etnnoi-
ogy is the particular branch of this great seat
of research which has the Indian music investi-
Il
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 mucn tllne
among the Chippewas and other tribes whose
music is at once notable and representative ana
has recorded as many as TWO nunureu soneS oe
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 phonograpn was nit
upon as the only possible means OF providing
the means Of studying the music carefully ana
leisurely AS may be surmsed 1t was anything
but an easy task to induce some OF the more su'
nerstitious 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 whlch cali up
the musical lore of the savages
Finally, after much perseverance, however, a'
Indian agencies and elsewhere, the music hunters
have succeeded in making credltaple pesinnns
in securing the priceless phonograph records OF
indian music In the case of 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 pF
ano score and studied scientifically. MeanWhlle
the collection Of records will be kept on file Tor
the benefit of the musical students OF future
generations who will find It priceless boon 10
hear the Indian music as originally rendered
The researches which have been mad e show that
Indian music is as complex as is the tribal lie
of the original Americans An accompaniment OF
song is provided for every public ceremony as
we'll as for every important act in the career OF an
individual. The music of each ceremony has It's
peOuliar rhythm as have also the classes OF songs
which pertain to individual acts such as tasting
and prayer, hunting, courtship' the playing oI
- ond the facing or defying of death An
pIndisn or a person thoroughly versed in Indian