The Chemawa American, May 30, 1917, Image 1

P r in t e d a t C h e m a w a , O re g o n , a n d D e v o te d to th e In te r e s t s o f In d ia n E d u c a tio n
Vol. X IX
W ednesday, M ay 30, 1917
QUARTET M ENTIO N
Leading musical journals of the United States have
given unusual attention and mention to our Indian
Quartet. We are pleased to reprint a few excerpts
from articles appearing recently in Boston, New York,
and Chicago musical magazines, as follows:
Not many admirers of chamber music know that a
quartet composed entirely of American Indians is do­
ing artistic work at the Chemawa Indian School near
Salem, Oregon.
Charles Wakefield Cadman, who with Princess Tsia-
nina appeared at the school recently, speaks in glow­
ing terms of the work of the ensemble. They have
achieved splendid results in their short time together
under the intelligent guidance of their teacher, Ruthyn
Turney. The boys play quartets by Mozart, Haydn
and Beethoven, together with some more mordern
pieces, and have also in their repertoire a number of
arrangements of Indian music made by their instructor.
Eich member of the quartet represents a different
tribe.
Cadman says he was quite “ flabbergasted” when,
alighting from the train, another talented Indian boy
who is studying ‘cello greeted him with, “ I am glad
to know you, Mr. Cadman, because we’ve been work­
ing on your Trio in D-major this winter.” —Musical
America, New York, May 12, 1917.
—0—
The Salem Indian Training School, located at Che­
mawa, Oregon, gives to the public this year a very
unique organization. Four young men of Indian blood,
who have shown unusual musical talent and who have
received years of careful training, are coming East as
the Indian String Quartet, and are booked for an ex­
tended tour in concert work.
The institution, located at Chemawa, stands for
only the best in art and all things cultural, and in
sending out this organization it is confident that it will
assist the Indian to proper recognition, and that the
work of these young men will be of such excellence
as to prove an educational force for the elimination of
prejudice on the part of our uninformed white people.
The quartetwas conceived by a member of the faculty
at Chemawa and is Chemawa’s very own—an artistic
organization from the “ Great West.” That each mem­
No. 32
ber is enrolled at the Chemawa school and is a bona fide
student is attested by a “ Notice to the Public” which
is carried by much of the quartet’s advertising matter,
and which bears the signature of Mr. Harwood Hall,
superintendent of the school.
This is the only Indian string quartet in the world
and its work shows that the American Indian is as
capable of high attainments in art as his paler brother.
In addition to their programs of classical numbers
they make a special feature of Indian music. The
faculty member who organized and trained the quartet
has made a careful study of primitive Indian music
and has been very successful in reproducing its beau­
tiful, strange, and wierd effects in his special writings
for the quartet.
Mr. Richard Kennedy, lecturer and story teller, a
graduate of Harvard University, is associated with the
quartet. During the Chautauqua season he lectures
in the afternoon. In connection with the concerts he
describes the Indian music and the ceremonies with
which it is connected and tells stories of Indian
myths.—The Musician, Boston, May, 1917.
—0—
The Indian String Quartet will tour the country
this season. Each member of the quartet represents a
different tribe. Fred Cardin, first violinist, comes from
the Quapaw tribe in Oklahoma; Alex Melovidov, sec­
ond violinist, comes from the Pribiloff Islands of the
Bering Sea, and is an Aleut; William Palin, violist, is
from the Flathead tribe of Montana; while Willie Red-
die, ’cellist, is from the Hydah tribe of Wrangell, Alas­
ka. They studied at the Salem Indian Training
School, Chemawa, Oregon.
This is the only Indian string quartet in the world
and it shows that the American Indian is as capable of
high attainments in art as his paler brother. In ad­
dition to their programs of classical numbers they make
a special feature of Indian music.
The quartet was organized by Ruthyn Turney, a
member of the faculty at the school.—The Violinist,
Chicago, May, 1917.
Word has been received from Ralph Sellew, a former
student and graduate of this school, that himself,
James Kennerly, Henry Burd and Hugh Jackson, also
former students, are enlisted in the 2d Montana Cav­
alry.