116 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



I BULL. 33 



No. 35. "They are Playing a Game" (Catalogue No. 342) 

 Sung by Odjib'we 



Voice J= 104 

 Drum J— 104 

 ( Di'um-rhythm similar to No. 15) 





-^ -^ 



gll^E 



-^ -•- jft. 





^*.i4=t 



Ga - bi - mi - bi - di-kweg mdc - ko- deng 



bi - mi - a - ta 



-r-<5> — I — »- — 0—»~nm •— •-p^ 



P-rP •— •- 



di-wdg e 



i - ni - ni-wfle e 





ga-bi- mi - bi - di-kweg mfic-ko ■ 



"ir 



=t: 



deng bi- mi - a - ta - di-wfig e i - ni - ni-w(ig e 



ga- bi-mi - bi-di 



kweg mfic-ko-deng bi-mi - a - ta - di-w<ig e i - ni - ni-wug e 



gabimi'bidikweg' the noise of passing feet 



muc^kodeng' on the prairie 



bimi^atadiwug' they are playing a game as they come 



ini''niwug' those men 



Analysis. — This melody is based on the tones of the minor triad, 

 the sixth being used as a passing tone and occurring only once. The 

 song contains a rhythmic tmit eight measures in length, which occurs 

 three times, is accurately repeated, and comprises the entire song. 

 It is worthy of note that the song contains only one upward progres- 

 sion; this occurs between the second and third sections of the song. 

 The compass of the song is unusual, as it begins on the tenth above 

 the tonic and ends on the fifth in the octave below the tonic. Four 

 renditions of the melody were recorded; the intonation of the tones 

 marked — is uniform m the several renditions. 



Odjib'we stated that on one occasion a warrior sank exhausted as 

 the war party was returning home. The other warriors, reluctant to 

 leave him a prey to some wandering enemy, stayed with him. It 

 seemed impossible for him to rise. However, he used his medicine, 

 and after a time sprang to his feet, smging this song, which he com- 

 posed at the time. The war party resumed its journey, and he 

 accompanied them, still singing his new song. 



