KuRATH] IROQUOIS MUSIC AND DANCE 25 



(d) Pattern exactly as in Fish Dance. 



Songs similar in type to Fish Dance, but with prevalence of dotted 

 melodic rhythms rather than triplets. End of dance signaled by 

 singers' yelping like a raccoon and striking twice on drum. 



Chicken Dance (daga'^'^deno'): 



Songs and dance — Sequence : 



(a) 2 songs by men and by women stationed before singers. 



(6) 3 songs with eskanye step by women. 



(c) 3 or more songs Fish type but in alternate array like Corn 

 Dance. Songs with more syncopation than Fish, shorter antiphonal 

 phrases. End signaled by leading hen crowing like rooster, "dakdag 



Sharpen- a-Stick (wai'motiyo') : 



Songs and dance. — Similar to Fish Dance, except for reputedly 

 greater speed. Actually faster start for each dance, but acceleration 

 not beyond regular Fish-type tempo. Varying repertoires and arbi- 

 trary order. 1951 version by Ed Curry, learned from Jonas Snow, 

 Chauncey Johnny John, and Willy Stevens, same first two songs and 

 different ensuing songs when compared with 1933 version by Jonas 

 Snow, Lyn Dowdy, and Ed Curry. Beat of instruments as in Fish 

 songs, but melodies more concise, with short-clipped phrases and duple 

 rhythms, and with four or five repeats notably in part B. 



Dance like Fish type, except for greater speed and more raising of 

 heels after foot twist. Specialty of young blades, "sharp sticks." 



Choose-a-Partner (deyondenyotgcs) , cousins' dance: 



Songs and dance. — Instrumental, structural, and choreographic form 

 same as for Fish dance. However, melodies extended to wider 

 descending scales, with fourths and octave range, ornamented with 

 some complex, crisp rhythms (2, 3, 7), sometimes enlarged into two 

 or three themes (1, 4). Special name-giving feature: women's choice 

 of partner from brother's or father's brother's children. 



miscellany of songs not adequately recorded at 

 coldspring, but in tonawanda series 



Fishing ('oshe-w^') — stomp; women in group, chosen by men as 

 partners. 



Cherokee Dance^ — stomp, ending in serpentine and spiral. ^^ 



Grinding-an-arrow (ganogfyo')^ — stomp. 



Knee- RATTLE (gahso'e') and Devil Dance (djihaya)^ — Fish type (?). 



19 Six Nations Cayuga, Willie John, learned Cherokee dance songs in Oklahoma; he led the dance at his 

 longhouse, and has recorded the tunes. 



