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

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PUEBLO MUSIC
81
(Catalog No. 2003)
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76
U-u Mr P V \i aij|P
No. 58.
"Lady crane, you stole my corn'
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softer
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Translation
Lady crane, you stole my corn
Three bags of it
Analysis.—A slight lingering on each of the repeated quarter notes is an
interesting peculiarity of this song and is in contrast to the descending phrases
which were sung crisply. The principal melody tones are B, G, and D, usually
in descending order, and the intervals comprise 12 ascending and 13 descending
progressions. The ritard at the close is similar to that in the song next preceding.
Several Isleta songs recorded by Lucero were not transcribed,
among them being a hunting song. In explanation, Lucero said the
principal game hunted by the people at Isleta is the rabbit. In
former times the weapons were clubs, bows and arrows, and the
hunt is still held on three Sundays in May. On the night before each
hunt the Indians build a bonfire and sit around it. The singers
consist of the war captains and certain other members of the tribe
who take turns in beating the drum during two or more songs. The
drum is the same that is used in ceremonies and is a tall, doubleheaded
drum, struck with the hands. The hunting songs have no
prescribed order.
After singing around the bonfire they go to the house of the animal
clan and "have a ceremony" which any member of the tribe may
attend. A little altar is made and "they have a painting and certain
images." The chief and his assistant "use sacred flowers in the
ceremony." They also "bum the feet of the animals they are going
to hunt, so the animals will be weak and cannot travel far."