KuRATH] IROQUOIS MUSIC AND DANCE 17 



repetitious themes in rapid eighth notes and occasional syncopated 

 melodic figures, in four-tone scales with limited range. 



Dance. — Women only, in single file counterclockwise round, facing 

 center of circle or occasionally pivoting on own axis. 



Step — a saw-foot progression to right, with slight knee flection on 

 every beat. Pull right foot right, turning toe in (actually pulling 

 with heel), twist left heel to right; swish right foot to right by shuffling 

 toe out in small arc, twist left toes to right. 



Gesture — elbows close to waist, forearms swing right and left, or 

 alternately up and down ; elbows at shoulder level, wrists rotate. 



Remarks. — Same step used by women in False-Face Round, Drum 

 Dance, Striking-the-stick, and if desired, in Fish Dance in place of 

 Fish step. Gestures, though apparently nonmimetic, said to repre- 

 sent agricultural activities. 



Women's great shuffle dance (fskanyego-wah): 



Function. — Address to the food spirits, at planting time in supplica- 

 tion for a good harvest, at harvest time in rejoicing. 



Occasions. — Coldspring: Planting, Harvest, fifth night of Mid- 

 winter; Tonawanda: Planting, Harvest, seventh night of Midwinter. 

 Sometimes at councils. 



Songs. — Two or three male singers with drum and horn rattles. 



(a) 5 introductory songs by men, drum tremolo. 



(6) 9 songs with meaningful texts, by men and women an octave 

 higher, as in Dark Dance. After initial drum tremolo, an even duple 

 beat, songs 6-10 with eighth notes, songs 11-14 with quarter notes. 



(c) 12 or more dance songs by men alone, women dancing. Same 

 form in essentials as old time dance, namely A A A' A A' or 

 A A B A B. Alternately accented duple beat throughout, accelerating 

 during each song. 



Most songs in extended scales with frequent use of fourths and a 

 typical syncopated rhythm in the melody. Dance songs more con- 

 servative than first 14 songs, either by limited tonal material (18 and 

 19) or by repetitious short thematic material (16, 21, 23). 



Dance. — ^Same as Women's Old Time Shuffle Dance. 



Remarks. — Bantering textual references to beans which grow up 

 cornstalks (in this context symbolizing men) and which go on to the 

 next stalk. Association with ancient custom of planting beans and 

 squash in same hills with corn. 



New women's shuffle dance: 



Function. — Social dance. 



Occasions. — Social gatherings, after long rites and during Six Na- 

 tions meetings, during special song sessions in homes, especially after 

 mutual aid in work. 



634-599 O — 64 3 



