DENSMORB] MANDAN AND HIDATSA MUSIC 73 
Analysis —The rhythmic unit is strongly in evidence in this song 
and was steadily maintained in the three renditions. The tone 
material is more interesting than in the songs next preceding, as it 
comprises all the tones of the octave except the seventh, and contains 
one accidental—the fourth raised a semitone. Thirty-nine progres- 
sions occur in the song, about two-thirds being downward. There 
is a strong feeling for the tonic chord (B flat-D-F) throughout the 
-melody, yet C frequently appears as an accented tone. The song is 
therefore classified in structure as melodic with harmonic frame- 
work, 
Then came the snake, who said, “ I want to be in this, I am fond of 
downy eagle plumes. When you get one you may offer it to me in 
my hole if you like.“ I will give you my song.” So the snake taught 
him this song. 
No. 22. Song of the Snake (Catalogue No. 824) 
VOICE d - 112 
Drum not recorded 
Analysis —F ive renditions of this song were recorded, the second 
differing slightly from the others. The song is built upon the tonic 
triad, descending from the octave to the tonic, with only one accented 
tone which is not part of that chord. The rhythm is interesting, 
but contains no unit. Two-thirds of the intervals are descending 
progressions, the interval of the fourth being especially prominent. 
they had a dispute as to which should call the other Younger Brother, so they said: ‘ Let 
us leave our bodies here, near together, and wander around for four years; then we 
will return and see which looks the freshest. This will decide.’ So they left their bodies 
(the cedar post and the coyote body) and went away. The coyote came back first. He 
found the coyote body all dry—nothing remained but skin and bones, but he breathed 
on it, rubbed it, and after a while it was a good, living coyote. He looked at the cedar 
post and it was badly decayed. Soon the other came back and in a short time the cedar 
post was all right. They looked at each other and saw they were alike, so they said: 
‘Neither of us shall call the other Younger Brother.’ So they addressed each other by 
a term which a man uses when addressing his wife, the nearest English equivalent being 
“old woman.” Cf. p.7. 
“Tn explanation of this it was said that ‘“ the eagle catching is late in the fall and 
the snakes go into their holes before this takes place, so the snake can not be present 
at the eagle catching.”’ 
