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Music of the Blackfeet Music of the Blackfeet Indians:Indians:
The Sun DanceThe Sun Dance
By: Sarah OwensBy: Sarah Owens
The BlackfeetThe Blackfeet
NW Plains IndiansNW Plains Indians Rely on Buffalo for Rely on Buffalo for
foodfood Very spiritualVery spiritual Hunt in small Hunt in small
groups all year, groups all year, come together for come together for ceremony before ceremony before hunting seasonhunting season
NapiNapi– Part-human spiritPart-human spirit– Assumes form of Assumes form of
sunsun– Gave people musicGave people music
Sound SourcesSound Sources
One singer, maleOne singer, male– Women singers: improperWomen singers: improper
Tone colorTone color– NasalNasal
Singing is emotionalSinging is emotional Few/no wordsFew/no words
InstrumentsInstruments
Mostly percussion: ninixkiatsisMostly percussion: ninixkiatsis Bass drums: isokimatsisBass drums: isokimatsis Rattles: auanaRattles: auana Bells attached to dancers legsBells attached to dancers legs
RhythmRhythm
Used to keep time for dancersUsed to keep time for dancers Changes frequentlyChanges frequently
– **breath** fast**breath** fastslow **breath** fastslow **breath** fast slowslow
The tempo of the song is prestoThe tempo of the song is presto
Melody And HarmonyMelody And Harmony The melody seems to move based on singer’s The melody seems to move based on singer’s
breathbreath– starts high pitched and loud and goes lower pitched and starts high pitched and loud and goes lower pitched and
more quietmore quiet– FalsettoFalsetto– Supposed to be hard to sing, expresses challenges of lifeSupposed to be hard to sing, expresses challenges of life
Melodic contourMelodic contour– jaggedjagged– disjunctdisjunct
The density is thin; there is only one voiceThe density is thin; there is only one voice The texture is monophonic, one voice sings one The texture is monophonic, one voice sings one
melody a capellamelody a capella
FormForm
Sharp/highSharp/highlow/slowlow/slow Sharp contrastSharp contrast
Use of the MusicUse of the Music Traditional music sung Traditional music sung
during the Sun Dance during the Sun Dance CeremonyCeremony
To gain spirit power and To gain spirit power and cause buffalo to multiplycause buffalo to multiply
Pleased spiritsPleased spirits Ceremony and music Ceremony and music
united tribe, the tribe united tribe, the tribe only met about once a only met about once a yearyear
Illustrate singer’s Illustrate singer’s couragecourage
Shows hardship of lifeShows hardship of life
The Sun Dance CeremonyThe Sun Dance Ceremony
Large pole placed in center of campLarge pole placed in center of camp Skewers pierce men’s skin and backsSkewers pierce men’s skin and backs Dancers watch sun, sing, pray and Dancers watch sun, sing, pray and
dance for four daysdance for four days When skewers rip through skin, When skewers rip through skin,
ceremony endsceremony ends