File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (17539533863).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo15amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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HOME SONGS OF THE TEWA INDIANS By Herbert J. Spinden THE songs of the Tewa Indians may be divided into two broad groups, the first rehgious, the second famihar. The songs that are primarily rehgious are the ones used in the great ceremonies and dances and those that refer to warfare and the chase. All songs which are supposed to be en- dowed with magical power are called "Pina°^" or "Magic Songs." Such songs in the ceremonies are supposed to induce the gods to bring rain and fruits or whatever else is required. War songs bring confusion to the enemy. Hunting songs, sung either by the hunter him- self or by a female relative who remains at home, are supposed by merely men- tioning the lion and the bear to transfer the hunting abilities of these animals to the hunter, while naming the deer is suffi- cient to deliver game into the hands of the hunter. The songs that occur in the myths nearly always have a deep reli- gious significance. There are also witch songs which have power to do evil unless they are warded off. Familiar songs include lullabys, avo- cation songs, love songs and homesick songs — songs which are intimately con- nected with life and which reflect the everyday philosophy of the people. I will not discuss the question of their music, largely because this phase of Pueblo life has already been treated by persons much more competent to handle it than I. What I wish particularly to call attention to is the word content, the sentiment and the poetic construction of the songs. Here are two songs in the original text and in translation. The first is a little song which might be called the "Home Sweet Home" of the Tewa: Navi awi nawa, awi nawa Navi awi nawa ndi o° sha 0'i° pi° ndo mu'iri ka°^ na nandi Na re sita a hi yo he'e wa A hi yo he'e wa, a hi yo he'e wa Navi awi nawa ndi o° sha. My home over there, my home over there, My home over there, now-1 remember it! And when I see that mountain far away Why, then I weep. Alas! what can I do? What can I do? Alas! what can I do? My home over there, now I remember it. 73

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