Hello beautiful people! Welcome back to my blog. Today our musical tastebuds take us to explore the Native Americans' way of music.
The first thing that I found truly amazing about Native American music as well as their culture is their Pow Wows, especially the costumes they wear to these events. After doing some research I learned that a Dancer's regalia ( Fancy clothes) is a collection of things that reflect their lives, interests, and family background. Some will incorporate modern elements like t-shirts to pins or even Moccasins from Walmart. Their pow wow outfits aren't just costumes, it's a representation of who they are and where they come from as well as a physical representation of how fashion evolved in their cultures over time. As a formality dancer always wear some type of headgear; this can be a war bonnet, porcupine head roach, headdress, or any other objects that be used as a headband. To complete their glamorous outfit, they carry around objects such as feathered fans, fur-wrapped hoops, or staff. Below you will pow wow outfits from women to men and younger children. Did I light up your Musical taste buds? if not, click here. This website will surely tell you a bit more about Pow wow Regalia.
The second thing, I gotta I run by your musical minds is the structure of Native American music. Native American music is truly melodic; there is no harmony or polyphony, although there are occasional call and response singing between the soloist and chorus. Their music also has irregular rhythms with a nice healthy dose of Vocables (which are words that don't mean anything, but you should know that because we're in the same class and you were totally paying attention...right?). In my opinion, the Native American's use of vocables makes their music so powerful. Think about it, instead of focusing on the beat and words of the songs, you FEEL it. You feel the chanting, the drum beating, the Shakers Tremoloing (hope that's a real word). Their music was meant for your feet to dance and soul to squeal with joy. And that is the most amazing thing about their music. But let's take a listen, shall we? instead of listening to the music, I want you to "feel" and I love to hear what you feel in the comments (or not, it's all good).
So I was listening to the war dance video you posted and it took me a minute to realize it was a modernized version with electrophones added into the mix. In all honesty, I would work out to that. It makes you want to run and dance. It's also wild that the Native Americans could find music out of anything like turning an eagle bone into a flute. I think the drone flute was my favorite thing to listen to.
ReplyDeleteThis is all so cool and interesting! Your second paragraph really made me feel like I could relate to everything about how you can "feel" the music and beat. I love when music gives me that feeling of just going wild and free.
ReplyDeleteThis is so informative. I thought it was so cool to see the different types of shakers and percussion instruments that the Natives made. I cannot believe they made all of these amazing instruments by hand! It was also very cool to see and hear the people play the flutes they created.
ReplyDeleteIt is so interesting how each of the individuals costumes represent themselves. I did not realize that but knowing now it makes me want to just look at them and try to figure out what everything they have on stand for to them. It is also interesting that they have to wear some type of head gear. I totally agree with what you said about how you can tell how much they love their music and culture by making their own instruments carefully.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you format your blog like a conversation; it keeps my attention. The first song you included felt very modern like you would hear it on the radio when the song picks up. I think it's a good thing that none of the animals body is being wasted and it's like their spirit continues through the music the instruments make.
ReplyDeleteI as well used the Native American Powwow which was fascinating. I really like your second paragraph it explains how there isn't a harmony to it but it has an irregular rhythm to it. Which I agree with. The music has an upbeat feeling where you call feel it go through your body.
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