Songs of the Copper Eskimos 



237 



This is a most irregular song. In addition to shifts in pitch which are 

 probably accountable for the change in key and possibly in tonality, there is 

 very little of a formal character. The song begins with a brief introduction 

 which is exactly like a connective. As far as the end of the first refrain it appears 

 to be fairly regular. An ordinary connective introduces the second verse. It is 

 not uncommon among pi'siks to find new material for the first phrase of the 

 second verse or the second part of the first verse, but the return is seldom made 

 to the A phrase for the second phrase of the part or verse in question. B' should, 

 according to the usual form, be the refrain, but the verse continues through 

 this and its extension as well as through E and F phrases, making this verse 

 out of all proportion in length and content to the first. The G brings in a refrain 

 as far as the words are concerned, and from all that is given, quite like the first, 

 but the music is different, therefore it has been called refrain 2. It is not 

 possible to make much out of a song like this, except that in the first part it 

 bears rough resemblance to certain pisiks. The beginning is on the first beat 

 of the measure, although with the varying pitch and key conditions it is im- 

 possible to say what degree. Owing to the unfinished stat^ of the tune and the 

 fact that musically the second refrain appears to be totally unlike the first, it 

 is equally impossible to say on what degree it ends. 



