American Ethnology 1

Abstract

THE study of the Chippewa songs and music collected by Miss F. Densmore in Minnesota is of exceptional interest. Every phase of Chippewa life is expressed in music. Many of the songs are very old, and are found in several reservations; others are said to be the more recent compositions of certain men who composed them “during a dream” or “ upon awaking from a dream.” It is still customary for the Chippewa to celebrate an important event by a song. None are the exclusive property of families or clans; a young man does not inherit the right to sing his father's songs, but if he likes he may learn them by giving the customary gift of tobacco. As with the songs of the Murray Islanders of Torres Straits, the melody is considered more important than the words. It is permissfble and customary to compose new words for old tunes, but they are always similar in general character to the words previously used, the idea being the important thing. “Indian songs are not recorded in a definite system of notation, and a standard of absolute exactness is lacking; the melody-trend and the principal rhythm of the song, however, are constant. “ Indian music seems to belong to a period in which habit takes the place of scale consciousness. Habit in the choice of musical intervals is formed by following a line of least resistance or by a definite act of the will, or may be the result of both, the voice at first singing the intervals which it finds easiest, and afterward repeating these intervals voluntarily. … The present study is not an analysis of fractional tones, but of melodic trend and general musical character; therefore the ordinary musical notation is used, with the addition of a few signs in special cases.” A vibrato or wavering tone is especially pleasing to the singers; it is difficult for them to acquire, and is considered a sign of musical proficiency.