The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-01
Urges Preservation /
of Indian Mus,

"Let the Indian children know
music Of their people, let them d
their songs. For singing TO them ND
more than we can possibly imsQ|
1t is their very lifci'
These words come from man
has had ample opportunity 10 obse
the conditions which obtain among
red men of today. lie is Gsof1|
o 'IIara, a young American music|
who was sent out TO Arizona, INTO
country Of the Navajo tribe, last Ac
by Secretary of the Interior Fran
X. Lane. His mission was TO teach
Indian children their own songs, to
culcate III them again the desire 10 d
the music of their forefathers Of VI
they have been deprived for many 81
by certain apparently well.mea1|
Americans.
Mr.. o 'Hara returned east in Den
Der and since then has been refleeI
on what he saw and heard among
Indians with whom he lived. His n
included the taking down of Indian 4
odies by means OF the phonograph h'
he had gotten some Of the old Indian
sing for him. But a larger part Of
time was given to a careful study Of
red man Is nature, his character aud
type of mind. This Mr., O'Hara 70
of such great interest that he has
come mora than commissioner
ployee Of the government in his feslI
toward the work.
1.-The condition. ne declared u
representative of Musical Amer
which exists among the Navajos n
whom ] lived is an entirely uns1'
factory one. These Indians are hyinr|
their mud huts, removed from all
ters and with them they have no
to teach them. You cannot charge q
with being unmusical. OF that
firmly convinced, for they rsspcn1
good music when they hear it. !
them the prologue to 'Paghneel,
which they enthused- and furthr
found a trader who had phonog
and who was constantly being aske1
them TO play Caruso 8 record Of
Donna Mobile so that when !
there the record was entirely WON
"Their music is a wonderful u
handed down to them from posts'
Not a song is there among those ol
Navalos-aud they have more
15, 5,000-that is not a religious one. Y
music and their religion are closer
lated And here is where the tr'
arises. The government, realizing
has taken measures to have the ~
children remain iu Ignorance o.
music, believing that by so dong
will become civilized more rapidly
have retarded the growth OF tnss
dian children in terms of clvifIar
Think OF i'll These tots have 1os
allowed to sing, [ have been tola 2
dian boys that they would fetnsl
than do anything else.
Much has been said Of the lnol
inability to appreciate our music.
has beep said TO be insensipie
conception OF melody and harmony,
o 'Hara has found that this 10 nu
He claims that the reason Amsl
have stated this is their not reco6a
the fact that the Indian has had
man : music presented 10 nlM
wholly unconvipcing manner.
ample, - he said, "take the, cass
where I was stationed. Tn the =
rooms they have pianos. But y
of the question to keep them ID
for piano tuners only exist hnnaiey
miles away. And the school Ies
who are very sincere workers, huoi
little about music that they csnnc,s; NJ
the Indians what cur music IS n
met one teacher who was tEylns
teach the children how to sing son
our songs, She told me FRANK!
she knew nothing about music, In
there she was, bringing to these vi"
ears something that they ougnt y
but could not like as she preSen.eJs 4.
them The way in which tnesS
ers play the piano is so paa - N
Indians refnse to call it music e'