Weekly Chemawa American., July 31, 1908, Page 7, Image 7

THE C HEM AW A AMERICAN
INDIAN MUSIC
MARTIN SAMPSON.
Supt. Chalcraft, Asst. Supt. Campbell,
Teachers, Fel low-students and Visitors:
The . hound of the t m-tom and the
Indian pipe is not particularly pleasing
to the cultivated musical ear. To the
Indian, however, in his native state it
is as beautiful as , the finest symphony
music or Sousa's band is to the civilized
races.
Indian music is the music of primitive
man. It is similar to music of all primi
tive people. In a sad minor key, most
of the songs are almost without melody,
absolutely without harmony, but all
have a meaning peculiarly their own.
The Indian mother's lullaby is soft,
sweet and soothing to the little babe,
resting in its fragrant cedar swing cra
dle or snuggly encased in a quaintly
beaded papoose basket.
The young Indian brave woos his
sweetheart with a love song as ardently
as his white brother woos the pale face
and although he v may not sing "Love
Me And The World Is Mine" to her
willing and credulous ear his words ex
press the admiration and poetic fancy of
lovers, whatever their race or condition.
The warsong U the song of savagery,
of hatred and of revenge. All the
fierce passions of man are expressed in
its wild utterance. , It is intended to ex
cite men to deeds' of bravery and of reck
less courage. Many of the war song s
have no words, but are used as the
white, man uses the brass band to rouse
and inspire the warriors to deeds of
vaor and fill them with the lust of
battle.
The medicine man's song is a chant
used to stimulate and encourage the
sick and to drive out the evil spirits
which cause the pain and torment of
the invalid. Although the Indian is
ignorant of English Literature he agrees
with the poet who said, ''Music hath
charms to sooth the-savage breast.''
The death chant is the- wail of
mourning continued for hours, some
times for days; sad and hopelss strains
once heard-can never be forgotten.
So you see that Indian music, al
though lacking the construction of the
harmonious music of civilized nations,
has a meaning to the Indian people
when heard in its proper place, and is
not without a certain artistic fitness.
I will now sing to you ont or two of
the Indian songs of my own people
which will of course lack much of the
effect which would be produced were the
setting in harmony with the music.
I will give you a love song and a song
of a medicine man. You wall notice
that nearly the same words are repeat
ed over and over again. (Sang Indian
Love and Medicine Songs.)
And now after having sung to you
these songs, I will eqdeavor to sing a
song Written by a modern composer
and I hope to be able to do it justice.
(Sang uGoodnight,Beloved, Goodnight.")
Win. Watkins was' the star of the . day
on Wednesday in the field meet. He
was not in trim, but for ail that he easi
ly, took first place in the 120 yard hurdles-,
second place in the broad jump and
220 yd. hurdles and third place in the
22( yard dash, therefore making 12
points for the Amateurs out of 55 made
by them.
Frank Kyselka, Superintendent Hoo
pa Valley Agency and school,. writes
that he is in need of a rapid and ex
perienced clerk understanding typewrit
ing and stenography, salary $960 per
annua, and states that he would be
pleased to hear from any eligible clerk
who desires a position.