NO. II MUSIC OF TULE INDIANS OF PANAMA DENSMORE "J 



Each song was prefaced by a few measures in which no words 

 were sung. After this introduction and with the beginning of the 

 words there was usually a change of tempo. It is interesting to note 

 that the time was steadily maintained unless there was a decided 

 change of tempo. Such a change was evidently connected with a 

 change in the words. Thus in the song of the boat race there is a 

 quickening of the tempo at the point marked 30 (dictaphone space 

 bar), the words stating that the wind grows stronger and the captain 

 of the boat is becoming alarmed. 



The peculiarities of individtral songs are noted in connection with 

 the words of the songs. 



INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC 



The Tule Indians are unique among primitive people in that they 

 do not use a drum nor pound upon anything in place of a drum. 

 The Choco, a neighboring tribe, use a drum but the musical customs 

 and songs of the Choco have not been adopted by the Tule. The 

 statement of the Indians concerning the absence of a drum was cor- 

 roborated by Major H. B. Johnson, formerly a lieutenant of the 

 Black Watch, B. E. F., whose acquaintance with these Indians ex- 

 tends ovef a period of three years. Major Johnson went to Panama 

 with a British expedition in 192 1 and became particularly inter- 

 ested in the Tule ; he was also a member of the Alarsh-Darien ex- 

 pedition in 1924. He said that he had heard a great deal of their 

 singing and was familiar with their use of other instruments, but 

 had never known the Tule to use any instrument similar* to a drum. 

 Their only percussion instrument is the gourd rattle which, it ap- 

 pears, is used only in connection with flutes. Rhythms suggesting 

 those played on a snare drum {tat, ra-ta-to;f_, ra-ta-to^-tat-faf) are 

 played on the panpipes which are used to accompany dancing. 



The musical instruments of the Tule are the panpipes, flute, gourd 

 rattle, bone whistle, and conch horn. The flute and panpipes are 

 easily made and the young men learn tO' play them chiefly by play- 

 ing with the " official musicians " at weddings and other gatherings. 

 The number of flutes played by the " official musicians " at a wed- 

 ding is two, but any number of young men may play with them 

 Gourd rattles are also used by the two principal musicians, and their 

 music is limited to a sort of interlude played during the prolonged 

 tones of the song. 



The panpipes are the principal musical instrument of the Tule 

 and are played for pleasure, as an accompaniment to dancing, and 



