340 Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-18 



Although the tempo of No. 120 is slow, the numerous sixteenths and thirty- 

 second notes enliven the movement and distinguish it from the majority of 

 Copper Eskimo dance songs of this general character. Some of those which are 

 called to mind in connection with these Mackenzie songs are No. 50 with some 

 very interesting instances of the singing of a single syllable over three notes, 

 No. 54 which is a very old tune, Nos. 64 and 66, No. 67 which is another old song, 

 Nos. 69 and 84, and No. 81 which comes from Prince Albert sound. 



Although smaller rhythms are not very numerous in No. 121, the teqlko 

 and the greater melodic range provide Mackenzie features. It shows a Dice 

 balance in an exceptionally lovely melody. The syncopation is interesting and 

 not at all typical of the region farther east. No. 122 has the same form as No. 

 121 and is quite Mackenzie in feeling. The rhythmic pattern is well developed 

 and fairly consistent, and the melodic sequences again attest appreciation of 

 the balance of parts. 



No. 123 with its rapid movement and occasional triplet or eighth and six- 

 teenth note rhythms, is only one phrase longer than the two previous examples, 

 and like them, appears to be formless and wandering until one examines the 

 music, when the charm of the melody is at once apparent. 



The pattern of No. 124 adds an extension to the final phrase and a little 

 coda, in the shape of the exclamatory passage which appears here as well as 

 in the Coppermine river region. A tempo of 132 M.M. and sixteenth notes 

 and triplet rhythms as the enlivening elements in the first part of the song, indicate 

 its relationship with other Mackenzie tunes. The minor tonality is a pleasing 

 and surprising contrast in a group which are largely and distinctively in the 

 more jojrful mode. 



Of the eleven songs analyzed seven are almost exuberantly major, one 

 vacillates between major and the relative minor, one becomes irregular after a 

 major beginning, one is minor and one is irregular throughout. The tonic 

 seems on the whole better established here than in the songs we have so far 

 discussed. Four songs begin on it, two end on it, although one ending is question- 

 able, while seven appear to have it as the general level. In three of these cases, 

 however, this seems divided, twice with the second degree and once with the 

 fifth. Of the other songs, two begin on the fifth, one on the third and two on 

 the second, but one is doubtful, while one begins on the third and another on 

 the fifth of the minor scale. Other endings than those already mentioned for 

 the tonic are in major tonality, two on the second degree, two on the thkd (one 

 above and the other below the tonic), one on the fourth, one on the fifth, and 

 one doubtful, while in the minor, one ends on the third, the other on the fifth. 

 General levels beside the tonic are, for the major songs, one doubtful for the 

 fifth degree, and one not estabUshed; in the two minor songs one has the third, 

 which served for beginning and end as well, the other is doubtfully the fifth, on 

 which the song also opened and closed. 



Five songs commence on the first beat of the measure, two on the last, two 

 on the final half-beat and two on the second half of the next-to-the-last beat. 



In summing up the situation for the Mackenzie river area, as far as the 

 testiniony of so small a group of songs permits, there are a number of particulars 

 m which the music seems to be quite distinct from that of the Copper Eskimo. 

 Melodically, m the dance tunes there is much more variety and grace, for the 

 Copper Eskimo pisik forms give the impression of more or less monotony, with 

 excessive play on the tonic major triad, while the form, if varied considerably 

 m detail, is m its larger features and repetitions of parts at times rather tiresome. 

 This does not mean that there are not a number of examples of very imtm^l 

 melodies and impelling rhythms which remain in the memory with tantalUhg 

 effect, for the Eskimos are, on the whole, exceedingly musical, in fact more so 

 than IS common with many Indian tribes or other peoples as groups. If the 



