Native American Music The first music of America

About Native American Music Origins of Native American Music is traced to the time of creation –G–Given by the Creator and spiritual beings Most music is vocal –N–No harmony –I–Irregular rhythm –N–No concept of pitch or intonation –A–Accompanied at least by drums

Songs belong to the community –Cannot be performed by outsiders without permission It is taught orally to preserve songs from one generation to the next Music has intrinsic value Performances are evaluated by feelings of connectedness

What the Music is About Communicate with supernatural powers Recount history Singing for definite results

Types of Music Sacred Narratives –D–Describe the origins of musical instruments, songs, dances and ceremonies Lullabies Traditional Songs –H–Handed down from generation to generation Medicine Songs –R–Received in a dream Modern Songs –I–Influence of European culture Hero Songs –O–Often old Love Songs –I–Influenced by the music of whites and considered as corrupt

Instruments

Drums Simple Skin Drum –O–One tanned skin tied to four stakes that are planted in the ground Frame Drum –T–Tightly stretched hide on a frame that is sewn together with a carrying handle Water Drum –K–Kettle that is partially filled with water with hide stretched over it Square Drum –M–Made from a wooden box

Rattles Container Rattles –Made of gourd, turtle shell, rawhide and horn filled with seeds or pebbles. Deer Hoof Rattles –Deer hooves attached to a stick

Other Instruments Flutes –Look similar to a recorder Whistle Rasp –A notched stick that is scraped by another stick Fiddle –Based on the violins carried by European settlers Clapper –A stick that is partially split in half on one end and struck against another object.

Pennsylvanian Tribes Lenape Susquehannock Nanticoke Shawnee