The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-06-17
INDIANS MUSIC
WILL Be SAVED
Agent Appointed to Record
Their Tribal Songs.
WORK is NOW UNDER WAY.

Government Has Been Working on
Policy For Several Years-Composer
O'Hara viii Live on Reservations
and Get the Chants From Old Men
and Squaws Who Know Them All.
The action of Secretary Of the In
terror Lane in appointing Goeffrey
O'Hara, a composer, instructor Of
music under the bureau of Indian af-
fairs means the policy Of the govern
ment, inaugurated years ago to pre-
serve the wonderful music of the
American Indian, will be continued.
Already much has been done in this
line. In fact the first Indian music
to be recorded and then played and
sung by Indian students was feature
of the commencement week program
of the Chilocco Indian school in north
ern Oklahoma in 1905.
At that time Professor Harold A.
Loring was United States supervisor
of Indian music, and 1t was under his
direction that Indian music was first
uCCd dk ShAkONNO anu SdAlIohC III 4OOOs
Songs For Sohools.
1t Will be Mr.. C'Hara's duty, it is
announced in connection with his ap-
pointment, to record native Indian mu-
sic and arrange 1t for use in the In
dian schools. He is to live on the res
ervadons, and much of his work will
necessarily be done therefore, In Ok
lahoma, where there are so many In
dian tribes now living.
In addition, too, there are the rem
nants Of many tribes once populous
and powerful living In Oklahoma
Delawares, Senecas, Wyandottes. Cad
dos, Waccos, Kaws, Shawnees, Mo
docs and various others.
The native music Of these tribes is
to be preserved, so far as possible,
and, as a rule, it is absolutely neces-
sary 10 get the music from the old
men and squaws of the tribes. The
younger generations do not know the
music In a great many instances.
The use of native Indian music, as
arranged by Professor Loring at Chi
locco and Carlisle in the spring of 1906,
ATTRACTED widespread attention, and
there were many calls for copies OF
the music from all sections Of the coun-
try.
In the Indian schools the music was
sung by choirs Of Indian young men
and women, native songs with band ac-
compartment.
One OF the pieces arranged by Pro
fessor Loring and that attracted the
most attention was the "Cante Mast
CO." Sioux Indian love song. 1t was
recorded from Indians on the Rosebud
reservation, IN South Dakota, by Pro-
feesor Lortng and arranged for bands.
Demand Among Wilkes.
In speaking Of his line of work he
said that wherever the Indian students
interpreted their tribal songs before
white audience they met with instant
success, and since that time there has
been a strong demand for the genuine
aboriginal music rather than for the
many cheap limitations.
"The Indians never sing their songs
in any form other than the melody"
said Mr.. Lortng, yet there is little
doubt but that they inwardly feel and
hear a harmonization as distinctly as
If 1t were being sung. l have often
gone TO the piano In company with an
Indian and have asked him to listen
attentively while played one Of the
songs of his tribe.
First would play the melody only
and would ask him If that were right,
If IT sounded satisfactory, and the re-
ply usually would be in the affirma-
tive. Then would play the same mel
ody with a harmonizatton, and he
would generally say, Tt sounds right,
and yet 1t is queer; 1t Is not Just COM
plete.'"