A SHORT STUDY ON ZULl' MrSIC. 261 



some event or feeling wliicli occupies liis mind and heart. He 

 continually hums the sentences to himself, and changes and 

 improves the air until it pleases him. Soon after, on meeting 

 a friend, he may inform him as to his composition, who in his 

 turn may suggest some alteration in the air, or he may add 

 another sentence. In this way the song travels from one to 

 another, and is passed on at beer-di-inks or dances, and ulti- 

 mately it may become the property of tlie tribe, while the 

 originator is in most cases forgotten. 



Their method of rendering their songs is very lax. One 

 and the same song may be rendered in quite different ways, 

 both as regards the repetition of Avords and the sequence of 

 the musical sentences. Great freedom is allowed, and thus 

 scope is given for the individual feeling or the genius of the 

 singer. Even the same person will make considerable altera- 

 tions in sins'ino- the same song- at different times ; but the 

 general meaning of the text and the main notes of the air are 

 retained. 



The time is very much "tempo rubato.^^ When there is 

 only one singer the text is sung with or without action, and in 

 a feigned or loud voice. If there are several singers, one Avill 

 take the lead, and the others will accompany in different 

 parts, or the text may be divided among the singers and sung 

 in turn. 



The Zulu chants are endless, with a constant repetition of 

 the same text and air. 



Rhythm is marked by action, such as stamping the feet, 

 clapping hands, brandishing a dancing-stick, or by other 

 movements of the body. 



In singing a war-song — igama lempi — the men stand in 

 a single row, or, if numerous, in many rows, one behind the 

 other, and the chief stands in the centre of the front row. 

 On both sides stand the women and children, Avho keep time 

 to the chant by clapping their hands. The strong, deep 

 voices of the men cause a roar like distant thunder, and the 

 stamping of the feet makes the earth to resound. All enter 

 thoroughly into the spirit of the song, and the whole is grand 



