North American Native Musical Instruments

A snapping-turtle shell rattle.

       The North American Natives have accompanied almost every phase of their lives with music. From the time the babe comes into the world and is soothed with Indian lullabies, its life is surrounded with music. Through its childhood it is trained for the daily tasks, each with a song; it is taught the tribal history in songs, and, finally, the more complicated ceremonies and dances with their music. No matter how simple the task or how common the object, there is a tune and a thought to go with it. There are songs for grinding corn, for bringing water from the spring, for the flaming fire, for food and hunting, and for the wind in the trees and stars in the sky.

       The Natives love their music - it expresses their thoughts and feelings as it does for many primitive as well as civilized people. The meaning and song are the important parts; the instruments are to assist and give the rhythm. It is only on rare occasions that the instruments carry the melody.
       Probably the most important and widely spread Native musical instrument is the drum. It is used especially for ceremonies where rhythm is necessary. The drum need not have a loud tone but it usually has carrying qualities and can be heard for long distances. Very frequently the rhythm of the drum beat will be faster than that of the voices and only at intervals will the voices and the drum be together. The drums can be made for different pitches which vary according to the weather. If the skin drumhead is moist, the drum sound will be a dull thud; if the drumhead is dry the sound will have a clear tone. For this reason the drummer often dries or warms his drum over a fire before he plays on it. Some drums are small and easily carried by the dancers, while others are so large that they are hung on wooden supports. Often the drums are beautifully decorated with painted designs, with ornaments made from porcupine quills, or with beads and feathers.
       The drums are supplemented by rattles of various kinds. Once again the musical instrument has no real tune - it simply furnishes the rhythm. Occasionally rattles of several tones are used together for harmony. Many of these rattles are made of hollowed out gourds with seeds or pebbles inside to produce the sound effects; others are made of wood, rawhide or mussel shells. The Iroquois Indians make unusual rattles of snapping-turtle shells.
       While the rhythm so characteristic of Native music is usually produced by drums and rattles, the Natives in the southwest produce the same swing by working a bone or wooden scraper back and forth across a notched stick.
       To a listener unfamiliar with Indian music this rhythmical noise from drums, rattles and notched sticks drowns most of the real music, the sweet melody underneath the din. Only after hearing it several times does the person begin to feel the beauty of Indian music. The melody is carried by the Native voices and is sometimes assisted by flutes, flageolets and whistles. These instruments can produce different notes and thus help the melody.
       Probably the most ancient musical instrument was the bone flute or whistle made from an animal bone. This whistle was usually carried around the neck of an Native hunter. In later years, the whistles were used in dances and ceremonies to imitate or symbolize the cries of birds, animals and spirits.
       Since the flute and the flageolet can produce melodies, they are occasionally played without vocal accompaniment. These instruments have rather plaintive sounds and are used especially when sentiment is to be expressed. The Indian boy uses the flute or flageolet for courting. With a melody and song, probably of his own composition, he tells of his love for the Native maiden.
       In recent years, Natives have enjoyed singing together in fairly large groups. These songs are still accompanied by drums, rattles, whistles, flutes, notched sticks and flageolets as well as body movements. But through all this confusion there is woven a simple melody which sings out their own simple life. Miriam Wood

Native American Musical Heritage 

shared by Anthony Belvado.