114 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



iBULL. 5S 



No. 33. Death Song of Name'bings' (Catalogue No. 335) 



Sung by OdjjEb^we 



Voice J = 104 

 Dr0m J = 104 



(Drum-rhythm similar to No. 2 ) 



Ni - ma - ji-man-dis ni - ma - ji-man-dls nim - bi - dji-man-dis nim 



1 1 1 





bi-djl-man-dis nim - bi-dji-man-dis e - na - su-mi - ka-yan e 



nima''jiman'dis the odor of death 



nimbi'djiman'dis I discern the odor of death 



gna'sumi'kayan^ in the front of my body 



Analysis. — Ten renditions of this song are on the phonograph 

 cylinder, the transcription being from the eighth rendition. The 

 words vary in the several renditions, sometimes only one word being 

 used or meaningless syllables sung. The principal variation in intona- 

 tion is on the tone A in the second measure. The intonation of the 

 last three measures is uniform and the rhythm of the entire song shows 

 no variation. The song contains a short rhythmic unit, which occurs 

 five times without interruption. The last three measures are in a 

 different rhythm. (Compare Nos. 4, 5, 19, 34.) In these measures 

 the length of the tones is unusually regular and the voice and drum 

 exactly coincide. The structure of this song is interesting. The 

 accented tones f oUow the intervals of the triad of A minor and the 

 unaccented tones in the fourth and sixth measures introduce the 

 chord of C major, the song being in the major key. Thus the first 

 two measures are on the chord of A minor and the next two measures 

 on that of C major; then follows a measure in A minor (without the 

 third), gi\Ting way again to C major in the last three measures. This 

 alternation of minor and major is worthy of special note in connection 

 with the origin of the song. (See No. 128.) 



At the fii'st camp after this fight the Chippewa composed a song, 

 the words of which refer to the Sioux women who came from the 

 village to drag back the wounded men. 



