OCR Text |
Show DENSMORE] NORTHERN UTE MUSIC 151 No. 72. War Song ( e) ( Catalogue No. 705) Recorded by SINGER No. 9 VOICE J\= 426 DBUM J = 63 ( See footnote) Connective phrase Analysis.- Instead of a uniform drumbeat throughout the song, we have in this instance a very rapid drumbeat in the opening measures, followed by a quarter- note rhythm. Other songs with the same peculiarity are Nos. 86, 87, and 88. This seems an individual phase rather thqn one connected with the character of the song. The quarter- note drumbeat was maintained steadily during the 3- 8 measures of the song and synchronized occasionally with the voice. Only' one other song ( No. 22) begins in 3- 8 time. In the fourth and fifth renditions the singer interpolated sharp, shrill cries before the connective phrase. ( See No. 7.) The melody contains the tones of the fourth five- loned scale and is melodic in structure. Only one-fourth of the intervals are larger than a minor third. One of the oldest warriors in the tribe said that his father told him of a war party in which he was leader. It was a large party, comprising from 30 to 50 men, armed with bows and arrows. The information is not clear as to whether this song was sung by the attacking warriors when near the enemy's camp or was composed in honor of a successful attack. To sing during an attack is not customary, yet it may have been done at this time, as the attacking party was so large. The singer's manner was excited as he recorded the song, and between the renditions he shouted, " Now, now, rim your horses because our young men may be killed; because if we go into the enemy's tents our scalps may be taken." The attack was said to have been made just before sunrise. |