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

densmobb] pueblo music 55
Translation
Yesterday, sometime, somewhere, up from the north
A yellow cloud has set.
Perhaps because the raingods are coming back again
Perhaps because the raingods are coming back again,
The yellow cloud has set.
Yesterday, sometime, somewhere, up from the middle west
A blue cloud has set.
Perhaps because the raingods are coming back again,
Perhaps because the raingods are coming back again,
The blue cloud has set.
This way from the middle direction
Cha-a-ga, a north raingod.
Green corn he has brought for us.
Then go forward, country-chief, carrying with you some prayer-sticks.
Carrying with you prayer-sticks, go forward.
Look there in the snow mountain the rain clouds are coming out,
Then go forward, country-chief, carrying the sticks that the raingods use in
their stick race.
Carrying also the ring that the women use to hold the water-jar on the head.
Carrying these, go forward,
Look, there is the enchanted mountain,
There the rain clouds are coming up.
Analysis.—This is a florid melody with frequent changes of tempo that probably
correspond to changes in the words. The melodic form consists of three periods,
the third being short and on the upper tones of the compass, followed by a repetition
of the second period. The first portion of the song is major in tonality with
B as its keynote, and the portion beginning with the change in signature is minor,
with F-sharp as its keynote, the song is therefore classified as both major and
minor in tonality. About two-thirds of the intervals are whole tones, next in
frequency being fourths and minor thirds.
Philip Sanchez, who recorded the Acoma songs, said that he often
composes songs. He said, "Melodies are always in my mind. I
make up songs when I am by myself, in a sheep camp or such a place."
In some instances the song is developed from a few words and in
others it is suggested by the scenes around him.
He recently painted a butterfly on a small article that he was
making. When he looked at the butterfly, he exclaimed, "It looks
real, as if it could fly away." Then he made this song which he
intends to sing at the Harvest dance on his return to Acoma Pueblo.
The idea of the butterfly and its flight is graceful, but the words do
not contain the high, simple poetry of the old Acoma songs, and their
rhythm, as given by the interpreter, lacks the broad sweep into which
the words of the old songs fall natm-ally when interpreted. He
requested that the word "chorus" be used.
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