dexsmore] 



CHIPPEWA MUSIC 



33 



A variation between the words as sung and the words accom- 

 panying the translation will be found in many Chippewa songs. 

 Many words are dismembered and have meaningless vowel sounds 

 inserted between the syllables; in many instances only a portion of 

 a word is used, and the pronunciation is often changed. Throughout 

 this work the words beneath the music are transcribed as given by 

 the singer. The words translated are the correct Chippewa and a 

 comparison between the two will show the changes made by the 

 singer. Thus in the present instance it will be seen that the syllable 

 hwe or wi is substituted for the two syllables nin-do, which are the 

 beginning of the Chippewa word; the syllable hi is also inserted in 

 the word. Meaningless syllables are italicized, whether inserted 

 between parts of a word or between the words of the song. 



Voice ^ = 84 



Drum 



108 



(Drum-rhythm similar to No. 1) 



ua - gi - wi - hi - na, - hi - na wi - na - gi - wi - na . . wi - 



hi - na 



WORDS 



Nindona^giwina^ I am raising it (or him) up 



On the day before the initiation a feast is given in his own lodge 

 by the candidate for initiation. Invitations are delivered by the 

 oc'kabe'wis, and most of the guests are women. A man is appointed 

 leader of this feast, and when it is time for the guests to depart he 

 leads in the singing of two songs, shaking his rattle as he sings. 

 Anyone who knows these songs may join the leader in singing them. 



During the first song the guests stand in a line, the leader being 

 next the door, and they dance as they stand in their places, the 

 dance step consisting in the rhythmic transference of the weight from 

 one foot to the other. Each of these songs is sung only once. 



Before singing the first song the leader might say, ''I have learned 

 this song from an old man, and I will sing it as well as I can. " The 

 words of the first song refer to the pan of food which each guest is 

 allowed to take home with him. 

 12692°— Bull. 45—10 3 



