Native American MusicNative American Music

The first music of AmericaThe first music of America

About Native American MusicAbout Native American Music

• Origins of Native American Music is traced to the time of creation– Given by the Creator and spiritual beings

• Most music is vocal– No harmony– Irregular rhythm– No concept of pitch or intonation– 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 AboutWhat the Music is About

• Communicate with supernatural powers

• Recount history

• Singing for definite results

Types of MusicTypes of Music• Sacred Narratives

– Describe the origins of musical instruments, songs, dances and ceremonies

• Lullabies

• Traditional Songs– Handed down from generation to generation

• Medicine Songs– Received in a dream

• Modern Songs– Influence of European culture

• Hero Songs– Often old

• Love Songs– Influenced by the music of whites and considered as corrupt

InstrumentsInstruments

DrumsDrums• Simple Skin Drum

– One tanned skin tied to four stakes that are planted in the ground

• Frame Drum– Tightly stretched hide on a frame that is sewn together with a

carrying handle

• Water Drum– Kettle that is partially filled with water with hide stretched over it

• Square Drum– Made from a wooden box

RattlesRattles

• 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 InstrumentsOther 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 TribesPennsylvanian Tribes

• Lenape

• Susquehannock

• Nanticoke

• Shawnee