Indian Games, Dances & Native Songs - online book

Native American Ceremonials, Sports, and Songs with Sheet Music, Lyrics & Commentary

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	INDIAN GAMES AND DANCES
	This song is retained as sung in the original Pawnee ceremony; the meaning has already been explained. The introduction is sung by the seven leaders, who advance in two rows, four in the first, three in the sec­ond, and in this manner they lead the Processional Dance. At the chorus all the other dancers fall in be­hind the leaders, either in couples or singly, every one singing. All steps must be rhythmic and in time with the music. The seven leaders move steadily, also in time with the music, as they hold the cornstalks high, while the followers wave their scarfs or mantles and dance happily and lightly, but with dignity. The picture should be one of contrast as the procession takes its way among trees and through the sunny fields, the seven moving evenly, with the corn held high, and the joyous, fluttering group of dancers following. The Life of the Corn culminates in a delight of color, movement and song.