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The music of Native Americans has a long and rich history that is not fully understood by many people. In this article, we will explore the history of native American music to help you better understand what it was like for those who lived in America before Europeans arrived.
Photo of Two Native Americans Playing Woodwind Instruments · Free Stock Photo (pexels.com)
The music of Native Americans has a long and rich history that is not fully understood by many people. In this article, we will explore the history of native American music to help you better understand what it was like for those who lived in America before Europeans arrived.
Native American Music and Dance
Even though there are different types of dance throughout Native American tribes, they all share one thing: togetherness. The goal behind dancing wasn’t just about entertainment; instead, it’s believed that singing or chanting songs while experiencing their physical movements would bring them closer as a community . Singing helped them bond with each other through song but also allowed members of the tribe to express themselves both vocally and emotionally.
While some dances were social gatherings where the entire tribe would participate, others were more individualistic in nature. Today, you can still see these types of traditional dances at pow wows and other gatherings throughout the country .
How the Western world found out about it
When European settlers first came to the Americas in search of a better life, they were unaware that there was already an established civilization with rich and diverse cultural traditions. But soon after settling down, Europeans began taking note of these differences and started documenting what they saw through written accounts . They would write about tribes’ daily lives, customs , mythology , etc., so we know today how Native Americans lived before Westernization.
The importance of music to Native Americans
In North America, music was considered a gift from God and used in daily life as well as for special occasions such as weddings or funerals.
In many tribes throughout North America each type of song had its own purpose and holder: singers, flute players, drummers and dancers were responsible for different types of songs at ceremonies and gatherings.
Another common use of Native American traditional music was to tell stories about certain events that happened to their ancestors involving animals like buffalo herds or wildlife like deer . Each tribe has their own style or genre depending on what part of Americas they come from but most have similar characteristics such as minor scale melodies with heavy drums playing long beats. This is probably because these pieces are passed down orally and handed down from one generation to another with little or no alterations.
What instruments were used in traditional Native American music?
Native American music has traditionally been much more inclusive than the average Western tune. Even though drumming is an integral part of tribal ceremonies, many tribes also utilized wind instruments for ceremonial events and personal entertainment alike. The flute was a popular instrument to play during celebrations, as well as songs that had been passed down from …….
Source: https://nativenewsonline.net/advertise/branded-voices/a-brief-history-of-native-american-music