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