Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-12
WOMAN CANS
INDIAN SONGS

u hsA- tAt-N -AtfNAAs
Glrat idrs are being taken in re
ousdls the events OF a nations life
ic. as future citizens. II Vill be TT
I..,.l.. 0--t-d that an official moving PIC
teg.. Eum BI5 m.tde under Government.
.tlspitvs 90 he Dunbar ceremonies IA
MIA iu honor II the ascension OF
tt~of-e To the throne OF he Brit
,sh Empirc This flIn Was deposited
IN the British Museum al lJndon as
ne most authentic report Ul tile cere-
lt.uuIes thar could possibly he record
eu n the nations archives, which
marked At that Time the mos modern
departure made bs any nation n com.
lIus historical data.
Al he present the United states Is
abb. 70 score point "a Great BrIt
AIN IN this matter of recording his
tory. b. means OF the phonograph
ana the enterprising enthusiasm OF
woman in the Bureau o' American
Ethuology Miss Frances Dtnsmofe -
one Of the most striking elements IN
the civilization of the earliest race ot
Americans music OF the redskins
rs able TO be preserved Ior tuiule gen
erltiuns.
4 set OF reproductions as fine as The
ingenuity of modern inventors can
make them OF the songs OF the indians
sung by ancient chiefs or crooned by
aged Indian women. viii form a val
liable part Of the collection OF United
States historical Information
What other country can boast as
much of its own original music? I'M
aaine asking the curators OF the his
,arieal records of any country on The
globe 10 give YOU a definite idea oi
ne primitive music OF their races.
What would their answers he Prob
abiy a long list of references TO mus
dissertations on the music ct the an
cieufs or a recommendation to hear
some of the modern composers arr
rangements of foIkSonss taken from
the festivals OF the peasants Such
would be the reward for your interest
II could not DE otherwise
! But to hear the SAGA Of a viking ~
|it might have been waited across the
hers-iletkcd seas OF the far North larf
SAGA which, with the addition o.
the ages doubtless forms the iouada-
t'ion for the penetrating Scandina'
Wan and Russian music popular to-
lay 10 hear any other of the eie
mental songs of either north or south
lands as they We're formulated Grl2t-
lnallv from the soul OF the inst seed
of Eusope-this alas. Is boon too
great for efon the muse OF history
herself 10 grant
YET. At some future day when stu
dents interested in the music OF early
america as it reveals the tempera-
ment end civilization of The aborig-
ines, sili ask for some Of The prlmor
Glal tunes. ana they will not only have
advantage OF hearing the notes OF
these songs. but will also hear them
sung by the native singers OF the
ibes who in the not distant future
viii all have passed away.
And as has been said, woman de-
serves the credit for amasslng This
material and putting II in definite
form on a definite basis for the Gov
eminent record. Miss Densm0re is eN-
ciusiyely responsible for what her bu-
reaa chief, r. w. Hodge, terms most
! remarkable results
Miss Densmore has brought as prep.
aration for her interesting researches
the musical temperament OF a PROBES
slanal artistic. The fine suhtleties OF
trained musical appreciation are hela
. and it Is perhaps chiefly because OF
Der broad musical viewpoint and pro
'essioual ardor that she has been able
!. 10 accomplish SO much. The mere pur
pose Of assembling Indian songs TO
sether as one might collect miscella
neous sea shells has never been hers
instead the artistic value end The
PSYCHOLOGICAL significance of the worl
have exertcd their claims to her az
peal
70 Miss nensmore is pupil Of Leon
Old Godowsky. the celebrated pianist
and of the late Carl Behrman of Bo-
Ton. Her training in musical theor
a was gained under John X. PAYNE q
), Harvard University. She first bccam
: attracted by the novelty OF India
@ music
f The published work of Miss Alice {
= Fletcher of the Peabody Institute o
r TIE subject attracted her attention.
r The FIRST opportunity she began h.
p contact with the Indians at n
k Worlds Fair in Chicago Her wnr
T. with the Bureau of Eihnology mari
% tkr last step in 'he sequence of Il
~ ii, ~ looping factors Of her interest
le Her summers are now spent on u
reservations with the tribes hos
that are most quickly passing out
existence. She has made observation
re among the Chippewa, SioX, Tie, Ma
he dan and eros Nentrcs tribes. Two "
he umes Of the Chippewa music but
TO tins of the bureau have already q
he pearcd over her signature, and thi
ON study Of the Sioux music, is abo
IS to be published.
en while on an Indian reservation
ie said Miss Densmore, replying to +
he interviewer's query about her meth