Fig. 6. Perqitaq. 
Introductory remarks on the source of the melodies 
and on the singers. 
BY 
W. THALBITZER. 
he source of the following melodies and texts is the old fund 
of tradition among the Ammassalik Eskimo. Since G. Horm 
overwintered in East Greenland in 1884—85 no one has drawn from 
this source, which was still active and pure when I passed the 
winter of 1905—06 there. All the national traditions, which have 
long vanished on the west coast of Greenland, thanks to the influence 
of European civilization, I found in surprising fullness at Ammassalik. 
This applies also to the Greenland music. 
Among my informants on the east coast were the best singers 
(i“nYertartin) and players (uaajeertut) of the Ammassalik natives. 
For the purpose of my records I sought out especially the old people, 
who remembered furthest back and whose ears and ideas were still 
uninfluenced by the modern revolution, which began with the 
founding of the Danish trading and mission station in 1894. But 
even among the younger people there were both capable singers 
and story-tellers. A list of the singers who have contributed towards 
my material is given on p. 59. 
In collecting I used two methods. Of the melodies 72 were noted 
down directly on the spot, the singer repeating his song for me 
several times whilst I used my violin to help in fixing the notes. 
The remainder were sung into my phonograph and were only 
transcribed into tunes by Hs. THUREN on my return to Copenhagen, 
XL. 4 
