Music of Acoma, Isleta, Cochiti, and Zuñi Pueblos - Flutopedia.com

Dbnsmobb] PUEBLO MUSIC 47
Concerning the next song it was said "women of the yellow corn
clan carry an ear of yellow corn in each hand and make motions with
them as they dance." The same is done by women of the blue corn
clan, and occasionally white corn is carried in the dance. This song
contains many syllables that have no meaning.
No. 33.
Voice J = 168
Drum J r 84
Drum- rhythm similar to No. 21
"The raingods have returned"
(Catalog No. 1920)
S
li) .
(1) (1)
mzm
itrrrvniirr
IT
p-F-rm E^3
y)--fh \
'iUmu rf^V':\\7dnm^
Fine
Translation
Nicely again the raingods have returned.
Life-giving crops as a gift to the people they have brought.
Nicely again Nawish [a raingod] has arrived,
Rainclouds and game as a gift to the people they have brought.
Nicely the kernels of corn turn yellow,
They form the yellow color.
(Repeated, mentioning blue, then white corn)
Analysis.—This song is less clear in tonality than a majority of the Acoma
songs under analysis. The keynote (C) occurs only in the upper register and the
third occurs only in the second measure of the song. The principal interval is a
whole tone, which comprises about two-thirds of the progressions. The minor
third occurs only five times, while the major third and larger intervals are 16 in
number. The rhythmic form is clear and contains two rhythmic units.
Attention is directed to the rhythm of the words of the next song,
given as nearly as possible in the words of the interpreter and divided
according to the cadence of his recitation. The rhythm suggests
that of a dance, though different from the rhythm of the melody.