dexsmoue] 



TETON SIOUX MUSIC 



479 



No. 202, Song of the Shuffling-feet Dance (b) (Catalogue No. 592) 

 Sung by Kills-at-Xight 

 Voice J = 63 

 Dki'm not recorded (l) (l) 



(2) 



(1) 



-#-#■ 





(1) 



(2) 





-J— Ji T i ^ 



^^ 



Analysis. — This is typical of the songs heard at gatherings of the 

 Sioux at the present time. It has a range of 17 tones, but a less 

 proficient singer might omit the lowest tone. Two other songs 

 with similar range are comprised in this series. (See Nos. 55, 195.) 

 This song is harmonic in structure and contains only the tones of the 

 major triad and second. Two rhythmic units occur, the division of 

 the first count in the first unit being reversed in the second unit. 

 The song was recorded twice, and the renditions on the two cylinders 

 were exactly alike, showing that the two units and the rhythmic 

 form of the song as a whole were clear in the mind of the singer. 

 No interval larger than a fourth occurs in the melody. 



See plot of this melody on page 484. 



NIGHT DANCE 



The night dance is mentioned by both Wissler and Lowie in con- 

 nection with the shuffling-feet dance. It is also mentioned by Dor- 

 sey.* Both young men and women took part in this dance, which 

 Wissler^ describes as foUows: 



The young men sat on one side of the tipi, the young women on the other. As 

 the songs for this dance were sung, a man would rise and dance with a present which 

 he then presented to one of the young women. In the same way the young women 

 danced with presents for the young men.[''] This was regarded as a kind of courting 

 ceremony. Then all danced in a circle, holding hands. At the close a feast was 

 made. 



1 Dorsey, J. Owen, Study of Siouan Cults, op. cit., p. 498. 



2 0p.cit., p. 79. 



3 [Cf. the giving of presents in the woman's dance of the Chippewa, Bull. 45, p. 192.J 



