The American Indians and Their Music

The American Indians and Their Music is a comprehensive book written by Frances Densmore that explores the rich and diverse musical traditions of various Native American tribes. The book delves into the history, culture, and spirituality of these tribes, examining how music played a vital role in their daily lives and rituals.Densmore, who was an ethnomusicologist and studied the music of Native American tribes for over four decades, provides detailed descriptions of various musical instruments used by different tribes, including drums, flutes, rattles, and whistles. She also discusses the unique vocal styles and techniques employed by these tribes, such as chanting, yodeling, and falsetto singing.The book is divided into chapters that focus on specific tribes, including the Chippewa, Sioux, Navajo, and Hopi. Densmore provides detailed accounts of the musical traditions of each tribe, including song lyrics, musical notation, and descriptions of the cultural context in which the music was created and performed.Overall, The American Indians and Their Music is a fascinating and informative book that provides a deep insight into the musical traditions of Native American tribes. It is an essential read for anyone interested in the history, culture, and music of these unique and diverse communities.Music is closely intertwined with the life of every race. We understand the people better if we know their music, and we appreciate the music better if we understand the people themselves. A portion of this book is devoted to the history and customs of the Indians, and a portion to their music in its various phases. Partial Contents: tribes and social organization; languages; arts and crafts; ceremonies; dances; games; mounds; Indian and the White man; famous Indians; why do Indians sing? words of Indians songs; children's songs; love songs; musical and wind instruments; rattles; adaptations of Indian music. Illustrated.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.