pENSsMonn] MANDAN AND HIDATSA MUSIC 149 
is a medicine song. I want all our party to return in safety and I 
want you all to sing this song with me.” Then the warriors all sang 
the song. Before making the phonograph record Old Dog spoke a 
rapid sentence which was caught by the recorder and later translated. 
He said “Grandfather, I am going to sing your song. Do not be 
offended.” Similar sentences were spoken by Sioux singers before 
recording important songs and are noted in Bulletin 61, Bur. Amer. 
Ethn., pp. 95 and 163. The Sioux also had a war song given by a wolf 
in a vision (Bull. 61, Bur. Amer. Ethn., No. 53). 
No. 80. War Medicine Song (Catalogue No. 891) 
Recorded by OLtp Dog 
VOICE 2 - 66 
Drum not recorded 
(1) 
Analysis ——This melody is marked by strength and vigor. It con- 
tains 12 measures and only 14 progressions. It is rhythmic and con- 
tains two somewhat similar phrases, one in triple and one in double 
time, these being designated as the rhythmic units of the song. 
Only three ascending intervals occur; the song has a compass of 11 
tones, descending steadily from the highest to the lowest tone of the 
compass, : 
It is said that the leader of a war party usually desired a rain in 
which to attack the enemy’s village (see Bull. 61, Bur. Amer. Ethn., 
p. 348). The story of the next song is lost, and we do not know by 
what mysterious power the medicine-man could command the wind 
nor what advantage he gained by it. We are only told that it is the 
“medicine song” of Old Dog, a prominent chief of the old days, and 
that he sang it before a battle. 
