496 INTRODUCTION TO ZUNI CEREMONIALISM sth. ann. 47 



innovations in words are introduced in specified places. These inno- 

 vations, as well as those of the katcina songs, are frequently social 

 comment. The society choirs are led by the drummer who holds 

 the sequence. He is a permanent officer of the society, although his 

 office is not sacred like that of the medicine chief or fire maker. 



The following partial list of the song cycles of the Great Fire 

 Society is some index of the wealth of musical endowment at Zuni: 



Chief song cycle .^^ Dance songs used in general curing ceremonies 

 in December. This contains 6 sequences containing, respectively, 29, 

 15, 16, 17, 14, and 31 songs. 



Thunder songs. Twenty songs for the first dancing of katcinas 

 at New Year. 



Dancing songs (for the dancing of katcinas at the New Year). 

 Seven sequences, the number of songs not known. 



Katcina songs. For dancing of katcinas at winter dance series and 

 at Ca'lako. Number of songs not loiown. 



Medicine water songs. Eight songs for making medicine water; 

 no drum. 



Fire-making songs. Four songs used for making New Year fire; 

 no drum. 



Purificatory songs. Four songs for purification sung at the con- 

 clusion of dancing; no drum. 



Storm-cloud songs. Twenty-two songs without drum sung for rain 

 on first night of winter solstice. Very esoteric. 



Songs of blessing. Sung for increase on eleventh night of winter 

 solstice. Number not known, "a big bunch." Esoteric. 



Dawn songs. "Two big bunches" sung at closing of meetings 

 during solstice. Very esoteric. No drum; slow rhythm. 



Prayer-stick songs. Four songs for blessing prayer stick bundle 

 before planting. Very esoteric. 



A number of special songs sung at the new year meeting: a "going- 

 out song," a "coming-in song," a song calling by name the appointees 

 to sacred offices, a song welcoming the New Year. 



This does not include the songs of the special meetings of the society 

 used at their public dance in January and February, individual curing 

 ceremonies, and initiations. The informant died before the list was 

 completed. Some of these songs are used only once a year or, like 

 initiation songs, at intervals of several years, and their content and 

 sequence must be kept by the drummer. 



With the exception of a few lidlabies and children's play songs, 

 there is no secular music at Zuni. The only work songs, those for the 

 grinding of corn, are sacred, since everything connected wdth the 

 handling of corn is sacred activity. There are two sequences of 

 songs for ceremonial grinding; the most popular are the Flute songs, 



32 The sequences are all named. 



