Native American Music

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Native American Music
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TIMBRE

• Drums
• One mallet
• Steady Beat
• Represents the heartbeat of nature.
• Used in all ceremonial music and dances.
• Flute
• Often used for artistic expression

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Timbre

• Voice
• Chanting or vocables
• Some words and some vocables
• BELLS and BEADS sewn on clothing
• Always sounding

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Instruments

• Made out of natural resources.

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Native American Gourd Rattles
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Rhythm in Native American Music

• Simple
• Steady beat . Represents the heartbeat of nature.
  

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Melody in Native American Music

• Complicated
• Vocal Slides
• Chanting or vocables
• Free Style

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FORM in Native American Music

• There is no form in Native American Music.
• There are sections of music signaled by the honor
  beats on the drum.

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Purposes

• Ceremonial
• Success in battle
• Success in hunting
• Healing songs
• Songs honoring nature
• Harvest songs
• Celebrations
• Lullabies
• Worksongs

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Artistic Expression

• Some flute music
• Not much for artistic expression, most Native
  American music is for ceremonial purposes.

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Social or Recreational

• Music and dances for social pow-wows.
• Greeting songs.

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Cultural Connections

• The Native American culture did not waste
  resources.
• It was an honor to be a musician in this culture.
• Music has been handed down from generation to
  generation.
• Music, dance, and drama were used to help
  document the community history and honor Mother
  Earth.
• Communities would share songs, dance and drama
  through a celebration known as a Pow Wow.