On the Interpretation of "Meaningless-Nonsensical Syllables" in the Music of the Pacific Northwest Indians
1976; University of Illinois Press; Volume: 20; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/851018
ISSN2156-7417
Autores Tópico(s)Diverse Musicological Studies
ResumoT he result of twenty-six years of research among Pacific Northwest Coast Indians, this study examines an important aspect of their music. I would like to suggest that scholars in our field might reach new viewpoint on subject of so-called meaningless-nonsensical In all categories of music and especially in so-called primitive music, one expects song texts to consist of words and syllables. The words are often translated. Sometimes, however, if not translatable, they are referred to as words of archaic status because singer no longer knows their meaning. This occurs especially among peoples whose songs are orally transmitted through many generations, during which time knowledge of language is gradually lost or substantially altered. In past, this status quo has been accepted. But if, in native musics, one comes to syallbles (in contrast to words) which are successively reiterated, one interprets them priori as meaningless. The connotation might have been drawn from Western art and folk music, where repetitive vocables such as tra-la-la are used as fill-ins or vocalizers when singer forgets text or just wants to hum melody. Considering yodel, which signifies exuberance or, to speak of Herbert Spencer's theory, a superflow of energy (Spencer 1857:396-408), one may be entitled to call its characteristic syllables meaningless or nonsensical. In traditional Indian music of Pacific west coast, however, I find this to be misconception. For years I had classified such syllables as meaningless, but not without certain reservation; as I sensed in them deeper significance than what they overtly conveyed. The first confirmation of my suspicions occurred in 1947, when Kwakiutl chief Billy Assu sang for me Hamatsa song (a Cannibal song) which utilizes basic syllables Hama hem. The Hamatsa is male secret society under protection of Cannibal spirits. The men are called Wild Men of Woods-Hamatsa. In their ceremonies, dances and songs are used extensively. This secret society is ascribed to Kwakiutl, but was later taken over by most of tribes of Pacific Northwest coast. Every chief had to be Hamatsa. He had to live alone in woods for period of four months to four years, and, when brought back, ceremony required that the Hamatsa must dance around
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