292 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[BULL. 53 



Analysis. — Four renditions of this song were recorded. In all 

 these the drumbeat was steadily maintained but the voice tempo 

 changed as indicated. (See the following groups,, each comprising 

 two songs: Nos. 100, 101; 103, 104; 121, 122.) The melody contains 

 the tones of the major triad and sixth and would be classified as 

 harmonic in structure except for the accented F in the fourth measure 

 from the last. Meaningless syllables were used in the closing measures 

 of the song. 



No. 169. "If I Were a Son-in-law" 



(Catalogue No. 269) 

 Sung by Henry Selkirk 



Voice J— 184 

 Drum J=: 108 

 ( Drum-rhythm similar to No. 19 ) 



Ko zi - gwa - ko-mi-nfig 



niu-da 



po 



^-^ 



-^^ 



'^ 



t=w-- 



ki 



-^ — h 



nlig 



ifiii: 



gfib-i 



yan 



3i^. 



E 



ri 



h2_ 



s 



^ 



WORDS 



kozigwa^kominug^ June berries 



ninda'nawapo^kinug' I would take to eat on my journey 



naangub'iyan^ - if I were a son-in-law 



June berries, which are abundant in the Chippewa country, con- 

 stitute the simplest possible form of refreshment. '^Take some June 

 berries with you," is a common saying among the Chippewa. These 

 berries grow on tall bushes; they are small and red, have firm white 

 meat and very little juice, and are sweetish in taste. 



Analysis. — This song contains the major triad and fourth, tone 

 material found in only one other song of the series of 340. It is 

 rhythmic in character but contains no unit of rhythm. The voice 

 tempo is rapid and the song has a marked individuality. 



1 One syllable of this word was omitted by the singer. 



2 Two consecutive syllables of this word are accented. The Chippewa word meaning "son-in-law" Is 

 nadng'k. The word occurring in the song contains also the root fib, meaning " to sit, " and would be lit- 

 erally translated, "if I were sitting as a son-in-law." In the old days each member of a Chippewa family 

 had his or her seat in the wigwam, and the son-in-law, coming into the home of his wife, had a seat assigned 

 him, and was referred to as "sitting." This indicated that he had been received as a member of the 

 family. 



