Songs of the Copper Eskimos 



377 



No. 130. Record IV. C. 67 

 Bb minor tonality 



V. 2. 



Refrain 



We are in this song again strongly reminded of the pisik with prelude 

 from the Copper Eskimos. In this case the refrain alone acts as a prelude, how- 

 ever, with an extension at the end which does not appear when the refrain 

 follows the verses. The verse is shorter than with most of the pisiks and the 

 refrain longer in proportion. The connective is used between verses and no 

 doubt would join each verse to the next if there were more than two. The 

 tempo of the dance is slower than the slowest pisik or aton and is very dignified 

 in movement. The presence of a number of small rhythmic values keeps it 

 from becoming heavy, and in this respect we are reminded of the songs from 

 Point Hope, Alaska, but here we have no syncopation. There is a play between 

 the tonic and the minor sixth, which has not been observed in any other song. 

 Usually in minor songs the sixth is conspicuous by its absence or infrequence. 



The song begins on the last half of the final beat on the fifth degree of the 

 minor scale and ends on the tonic above, and this is the general level. 



