Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-08-12
Il ZENc4Z WZlz4H MZZAGE

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
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
much time will be required if there is to be
mirrored for the benefit of future generations the
distinctive music of all the various tribes
Private individuals, musicians scientists. have
from time to time in the past made effort In q
small way perpetuate American Indian music
and while they deserve credit for what they
have accomplished it is undertaking which
through it's sheer magnitude. if for other
son. needs the resources of the national govern
ment- That it is pre-emnent1y government func-
ton is likewise attested by the fact that it has
promise of only when prosecuted through
the organized channels of intercourse with the
Indans,-channels which enable federal officials
get into the confidence of the more intellectual
of all the various tribes in degree that
would scarcely be possible except tn the case of
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
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 investi-
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 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 single tribe.
Oddly enough the phonograph has been the
chief means of capturing the songs of the for
est There is system of written music among
most of the tribes and the phonograph hit
upon the only possible of providing
the means of studying the music carefully and
leiSurely. AS may be surmised it anything
but easy task to induce of the
perstitious of the red sing into the strange
machine 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 creditabIe beginning
in securing the priceless photograph records of
Indian music. In the of tribes
the song collection of canned music is prac-
tically complete After records of Indian songs
or music secured they Transcribed in p
score and studied scientifically. Meanwhile
the collection of records win be kept file for
the benefit of the musical students of future
generations who win find it a priceless boon
hear the Indian music originally rendered.
The researches which have been mad show that
Indian music is complex is the tribal life
of the original Americans An accompaniment of
song is provided for every public ceremony
well for every important act in the of
Individual The music OF each ceremony its
peculiar rhythm have also the classes of songs
which pertain to individual acts such fasting
and prayer, hunting, courtship, the playing of
games and the facing defying of death An
Indian or q person thoroughly versed in Indian