Introduction to Native American Music

1
Introduction to Native American Music

• Ms. Hendrickson
• Mr. Stuckenschmidt
• Mr. Toll

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Cherokee

• Location Southeast (Tennessee, Kentucky, parts
  of the Carolinas and Virginia)
• Population 50,000 in 1670
• 25,000 after smallpox epidemic
• 19,000 after Civil War 370,000
  currently on and off reservations (largest
  Native American Nation)
• Four distinct tribes Cherokee Nation of
  Oklahoma, the United Keetoowah Band, the Eastern
  Band of Cherokee, and the Echota Cherokee
• Mascot corn, turtle was sacred because it had 13
  sections on its shell which paralleled the 13
  moon celebrations

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Cherokee Culture Significant History

• Held 13 festivals of the moon every year, (now
  just 12), different moon for each festival.
• Important crops include "three sisters" corn,
  beans, and squash.
• Played game similar to lacrosse to settle
  disputes, also played marbles.
• Musical instruments include water drum, an
  earthen pot or gourd with skin stretched over it,
  rattles made from turtle shells, and river cane
  flute.
• Music was part of family songs, sometimes
  nonsense words for chants and celebrations.

4
Mohawk

• Mohawk tribe- Mohawk means "man eater
• Most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation
• Three clans, the Bear, Wolf, and Turtle (Use one
  of these for the mascot)
• Very warlike, but with a strong, peaceful
  connection with nature

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Mohawk

• In 1650 there were only 5000 Mohawks left
• Very driving, intense music. Usually with a
  quick tempo, drums and shakers
• Their ballads were mostly a capella with sparse
  shaker accompaniment

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Apache

• Population of 53,000 members
• Located in southwest deserts (particularly in
  Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas)
• Famous for their fine beadwork and basketry.
• Apache men hunted buffalo, deer, antelope, and
  small game, while women gathered nuts, seeds, and
  fruit They got corn by trading with the Pueblo
  tribes and the Spanish, or by capturing it during
  raids.

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Apache Music

• One of the simplest of Native American Music
• Nasal vocals
• Use of drums, rattles, and Apache violin
• Arc-type melodies and large melodic intervals

8
Navajo

• The tribe is divided into more than 50 clans
• Songs, chants, prayers, and sand paintings also
  form part of the complicated religious rituals,
  and a large body of mythology exists
• Traditional dishes and cooking important in
  culture
• Velvet, turquoise, and silver part of the
  traditional clothing

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Navajo Music

• Love for dancing
• Intertribal Pow-Wows continue today
• Most social events help for pleasure and visitors
  are welcome
• The traditional song and dance is conducted to
  help cure someone who is sick