HE Bureau of American Ethnol- 
ogy under the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution at Washington, has for many 
years been conducting most interest- 
ing researches among the American 
aborigines, or Indians, whose origi- 
nal habitat included this whole coun- 
try but is now limited to a few reser- 
vations. This once great and power- 
ful race is rapidly becoming extinct 
and but for the labors of this govera- 
ment bureau we would be ignorant of 
many of their interesting customs, 
arts and industries, as well as their 
history itself. 
Among the researches carried on, 
a study of the music of the early 
ewners of this continent is being 
made by Miss Frances Densmore. In 
this connection, it was necessary to 
record results in such a manner as to 
make them available for references, 
and many songs have been recorded 
phonographically, making a perman- 
ent and accurate record. These rec- 
ords are supplemented by abundant 
field-notes concerning the musical 
performers themselves, their —sur- 
roundings, and the circumstances un- 
der which the songs were rendered. 
As each song is studied and analyzed, 
the results secured are found to be 
much more than a simple collection 
of Indian songs. They include some- 
thing of the human element, the sing- 
er’s personality as well as the tech- 
nical analysis of his music, and its 
division into melodic and harmonic 
groups. . 
Music is a key. to much of the 
ethnology of the people, especially to 
all that is sacred, their intimate feel- 
ings finding expression in the beauty, 
humanity, and poetry of their songs. 
Thus far the study of Indian music 
has included five tribes, the Bureau 
of American Ethnology having al- 
ready published two memoirs on 
Chippewa music. 
In referring to the songs in general, 
Miss Densmore says that they “are 
not petrified specimens; they are 
alive with the warm blood of human 
nature.” Music seems to be one of 
the Chippewas’ greatest pleasures, 
expressing every phase of their lives. 
Some of the songs are generally 
known, while others are the property 
of a single person, and transferable 
only at his discretion, but usually 
sold: Visiting Indians take pleasure 
in learning new songs and bringing 
them home with them, Certain af 
the songs are to commemorate events, 
others pertain to ceremonies or initia- 
tions into societies, while others are 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
Indian Music 
connected with medicine, love, games, 
and dances. 
Miss Densmore has collected about 
1,000 songs with the use of the 
phonograph, provided with a special- 
ly constructed recording horn and re- 
corder. Great care in selecting the 
singers is always necessary to insure 
old and important songs; a good 
voice, as well as a free and natural 
rendition of the song is desired. 
A number of the songs secured 
from the Chippewas have to do with 
the belief in the Mide (Miday) or 
Grand Medicine, which is their rel- 
gion and teaches many sound and 
practical doctrines; that long life 1s 
coincident with goodness, and that 
all evil inevitably reacts on the 5f- 
fender. The -chief: aim*of the .Mide 
is to secure health and long life for 
its adherents, and music forms an 
essential part of every means to that 
end. No reference to war and no 
allusions to enemies have been found 
thus far in the Mide. Among other 
things, the members of the cult are 
taught that their membership does 
not exempt them from the conse- 
quences of their sins. Lying, steal- 
ing and the use of liquor are strictly 
forbidden, 
Naturally most of the songs are 
handed down and learned by ear, but 
great exactness is required in singing 
them. These particular Indians have 
a method of recording their songs in 
mnemonics on a strip of birch bark. 
The record, which is little more than 
picture, serves as a reminder of the 
essential idea of the song, but leaves 
the words to the memory of the sing- 
er, or to his own ingenuity. : 
Besides the songs pertaining to the 
Mide initiations and ceremonies of 
the Chippewa, there are interesting 
songs relating to religion, war, social 
dances and daily life, healing of the 
sick, hunting and other occupations 
bearing upon the securing of food, 
and love. In the latter classification 
cne song was sung in a coy and bash- 
ful manner by an elderly, withered, 
and very dirty woman of the tribe, 
at Red Lake reservation, who said the 
words meant, “What are you saying 
to me?” “T am arrayed like the roses 
and beautiful as they.” This was a 
“charm song” of the Mide, and the 
diagram illustrating it crudely depicts 
the head, neck and trunk of a woma‘i, 
with flowers blooming in her heart. 
No further information could 
secured from this singer, as the next 
‘ay she was threatened with calamity 
1 
hee 
by certain of her sisters if she con- 
Dee. 31, 1915. 
tinued the singing. Later it was 
found that this song was known‘ by 
other members of the tribe, located at 
White Earth, Minnesota, and a wo- 
man in that reservation recorded — 
three other songs completing a series 
of four. 
A number of songs Icom a6 
om 
Dream songs, collected on the White — 
Earth and Leech Lake reservations, 
are said to have come to the minds of 
the Indians when they were in 
dreams or trances. These songs have 
a strong mental influence upon ihe. 
Indians to whom the supernatural is* 
very real. No songs except those be- 
lieved to be of supernatural origin 
were used in the treating of the sick, 
either with herbs or by the use of 
“jugglery.” 
te be essential to a cure, and could b» 
sold by one “doctor” to another. 
In treating the sick by means of 
‘“jugglery,’ a man demonstrated his 
supernatural power by strange feats, 
releasing 
manner not unlike the modern Hou- 
dini. This was done before he began 
the real treatment, and was in the 
nature of a “credential.” 
They were all believed — 
himself: from “bonds in a_ 
He also re-— 
lated his dream and sang the song-he 
received during it, the purpose a a 
to inspire confidence in. the* patients> 
‘Indian treatment of the sick indicates 
a strong belief in the effect of the = 
mind over the body, as evidenced ty — 
the constant use of affirmation; the 
“doctor” repeatedly assuring the sick » 
tan that he will surely recover. 
Indian music, except for the songs 
of daily life, is closely associated with - 
the supernatural, which is one reascn | 
why it is so closely guarded by. them. 
= iter tate Takis Ward Hewenene: 
posed for me,” said a Boston painter 
recently. “But she hesitated a long — 
time before consenting to do so. To 
urge her on I said, Don't be aftaides ; a 
a 
ae 
is 
Tit do you Justice, madam.’ ‘Ah,’ she ~ 
answered, ‘it isn’t justice I ask for ate 
9-99 
your hands: it’s mercy. ; see ae 
He was wandering aimlessly around — 
in a department store when the floor- 
walker approached him. 
for something : >” he asked. | 
wife,” replied the man. 
her.” 
sine. with heavy tread, and usually 
runs on low.” “ 
“Yes; aye 
“Describe. 
s 
“Father, what’s the fu- 
ture of the vérb ‘invest’?”’ Sertak 
(a Congressman) : “Investigation.”— 
Pennsylvania Punch Bowl, 
Tommy : 
- 
“Well, she’s a sort of a limou- _ 
= 
_ “Looking tea ; 
ee 
3 
a 
€, 
