Music has always played a major role in North American society. As important as it is today it was just as significant almost three centuries ago. An indigenous people of rich culture and beliefs were one of the first dated creators of music in America. Native Americans; a community of people who uses music to illustrate their value for family and spiritual connections to nature. Music has always acted as a center piece of Native Americans culture. They have created a society that has created diverse and complex performance traditions through music. This paper illustrates and provides an introduction to Native American music, a brief idea into the roles music played into their society, there musical instruments, history, musical characteristics and more. This paper will provide the reader with the basic understanding of Native American Music.
In order to understand Native American music, it is essential to recognize the origins and history of the music. Native Americans trace their origins of music back to the time of creation and the creation of man. Whether one agrees or disagrees with this, it is important to understand their cultural beliefs of music. Their beliefs with where music came from has an impact on how their music sounds. For instance, one may recognize Native American music as earthy, tribal with a strong emphasis to nature. This could be because of their spiritual connection to nature and creation. They also believe that specific individuals known as shamans in their tribe receive visons and dreams in which the Native Indian community learns various new songs. But because there were so many different Native American communities there are many tribes who have a long history in adopting musical practices from foreigners. Now that we have looked at the origins of Native American Music its equally important to understand the roles the musicians played in their society.
The roles of musicians in Native American society varies. Musicians in traditional Native American music served for numerous purposes such as courtships, storytelling, work songs and religious and healing ceremonies. Religious ceremonies acted as a way to promote health for the community a plentiful harvest and a warm winter. The musician’s, whose main instrument was often the drums would make a consistent beat all while the vocalist would sing a variation of chants and traditional hymns to their religious deity for spiritual and physical well-being. In entirety they believed songs brought success for wars, agriculture, health and socially. An example of this is seen in a variation of dances around the fire that was common in Native American Culture. Music is the very essence of Native American culture, an important function of their society to retain its cultural identity. The instrument’s Native Americans use is also important to familiarize oneself with as they examine their lifestyle.
The most well-known instrument commonly used by Native Indians was a drum that was made up of many different materials from the resource’s that surrounded them. This instrument was made from animal fur and leather, rocks, wood, deer hoofs and many other things. The drums usually functioned as the center stone piece for Native music traditions. The drum beat often acted as a spiritual connection to reach their deity. They believed the drums were the heartbeat of Mother Earth and often meant as a way to communicate with the supernatural. It is that reason that only skilled musicians chosen by the tribe’s leader were only allowed to operate the drums that served as an important instrument in their daily lives. But it wasn’t long until the Native Americans discovered the flute, which is believed to be an influence from European culture. The flute functioned the same way the drums had for healing, meditative and spiritual purposes. The difference is with its distinctive sound it has achieved notoriety and fame around the word for its uniqueness.
The different characteristics, melodies, and rhythm’s that I found in Native American culture is different from any other culture I have studied. The vocalizations which is the backbone of their culture vary from different melodies, irregular rhythms and a somewhat off-key style of singing is used. usually harmony isn’t incorporated, although many of the tribal singers may sing and chant at once. Percussion adds a variety of textures to the Native music such as different drums and rattles, whose primary purpose is to act as an accompaniment (homophonic) to the vocalist with slow and steady beats that gradually grow faster with a variety of accented patterns as the vocalist chants and songs get louder and more passionate. The drums not only act as an accompaniment but as a signal to move to the next part of their song for both dancers and singers. Although there isn’t a formal way the music is sung or played their style of playing is usually based on the sentiments of what they are purposefully playing for. Many researchers feel that Native American music is a complex form of music. The fluctuating drum beats and the releasing and tensing of vocals makes it a very complicated form of art.
With time Native Americans began to explore different changes in music and traditions. As Native American music began to evolve more contemporary musicians began to explore new styles and genres. Genres such as jazz, country and rock has all been adapted into Traditional-Indian culture. The trends may have emerged dating back to influence of Europeans whom shared numerous techniques, instrument’s reading and writing in the 1800’s that encouraged them to seek innovation outside of their community. For example, Buffy Sainte-Marrie was an innovative musician who was recognized by the international community years later for her approach in modernizing Indigenous music and gained recognition for Indigenous music in America. Her music acted as a bridge of social issues concerning Native Americans addressing a variety of issues such as land treaties, racism and harassment. Though Native American music has evolved it has struggled to make its presence mainstream to genres such as music pop, country or rap.
In Conclusion music is the foundation of Native American culture and still plays a vital role in their community today. Their tribal music is still very popular amongst their societies, nevertheless their music has made an impact on European and American composers who began blending Native American melodies into their pieces and film; George Quincy, Timothy Archibald and Jerod Tate are among the many composers influenced by Native American Music. In our Modern era it is fascinating to see Indigenous music of North America being globally recognized as one of the oldest and sacred arts of today.