On the Eskimo Music. 11 
by tied notes, e. g. LR but most often by different signs for ab- 
breviation ((%) =) or prolongation (CHENE 
At the end of a strophe, on the last notes, there is frequently 
an acceleration or retardation, consistent throughout. When the 
East Greenlander finishes his song, he is accustomed — as will be 
shown later — to sing the main tones of the melody in a prolonged 
ritardando. It is remarkable to find this sense for an imposing, 
peaceful conclusion of the melody. 
| À similar complicated rhythm is met with among many primitive 
races, although the melodies do not always have such a fixed rhyth- 
mic construction as among the East Greenlanders. As example of 
an irregular and yet clearly marked rhythm, I may especially refer 
to another northern folk, the Laplanders.? 
Rhythmic movements of the body and drum-beats. It may be 
asked, whether the movements of the Greenlanders during their 
day’s work can have had any influence on the rhythm of their songs. 
This can hardly be determined; the East Greenlander has no true 
working songs. The Eskimo certainly has hunting songs, which are 
sung when he is rowing home with his booty (e. g. Nos. 124, 125, 126) 
and the rhythm is something special in several of these songs, single 
strophes being very long drawn out and heavy (е. g. No. 124 С). 
These strophes however may be regarded as shouts of joy over the 
capture; there is nothing to show that any movement of their occupa- 
tions — е. g. rowing — has marked the rhythm of the melody. 
But even if working songs are unknown, the East Greenlander by 
no means keeps his body at rest whilst singing. He bends the knees 
at regular intervals, takes at times a step forwards or backwards, 
turns half round or twists the upper part of his body. In contrast 
to the men the women while singing stand still on the same spot, 
moving the hips from side to side in a figure of 8. The singers always 
stand with half-closed eyes and with a quiet smile on their faces.” 
Several of the East Greenlanders’ songs are accompanied by 
beats of the drum. 
The drum is the most important and most widespread instru- 
ment among primitive folk, though scarcely the oldest and simplest. 
1 For the most part, the signs used are those proposed by Otto Abraham and 
Е. М. у. Hornbostel in Smlb. 4. internation. Musikgesellschaft, IX, pp. 1 etc. 
(1909—10). 
? Armas Launis, Lappische Juoigosmelodien, p. XIII (Helsingfors 1908). 
3 G. Holm, Den »stgrenlandske Expedition 1883—85 (Meddelelser om Grønland, 
Vol. X (1888), pp. 154—155). 
