An Introduction to America’s Music

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1

214 PART 2 | FROM THE CIVIL WAR THROUGH WORLD WAR I


date: ca. 1850
performer: Tatan ka-ohi tika (Brave
Buffalo)
genre: Teton healing song
meter: irregular
form: iterative—music repeats with same
words

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR


  • descending melodic contour that begins
    near apex and ends near nadir

  • use of gapped scale

  • tense vocal quality


timing section text translation comments

0:00 phrase 4 of partial
statement

tatan ka wan
hema kiya he yo

A buffalo said to
me, he yo

Each song phrase has a
descending contour with a held
penultimate note. Phrase 4
begins near the apex and drops
to midrange; the fi nal note is the
melody’s nadir.
0:06 phrase 5 wahi nawa pin
kte wanma
yanka yo he yo

I will appear,
behold me, he yo

Begins in midrange and ends on
the nadir.

0:16 phrase 1 of full
statement

wahi nawa pin
kte wanma
yanka yo he yo

I will appear,
behold me, he yo

Begins on the apex and descends
to midrange.

0:23 phrase 2 wahi nawa pin
kte wanma
yanka yo he yo

I will appear,
behold me, he yo

Begins in midrange and ends like
phrase 4.

0:30 phrase 3 wahi nawa pin
kte wanma
yanka yo he yo

I will appear,
behold me, he yo

Identical to phrase 5.

0:38 phrase 4 tatan ka wan
hema kiya he yo

a buffalo said to
me, he yo
0:44 phrase 5 wahi nawa pin
kte wanma
yanka yo he yo

I will appear,
behold me, he yo

0:51 Singer clears his throat.
0:55 second full statement
note Field recording by Frances Densmore, Standing Rock Reservation, South Dakota, 1911–14.

Listening Guide 9.1

“A Buffalo Said to Me”
CD 1.28 TATAN KA-OHI TIKA (BRAVE BUFFALO)

172028_09_205-230_r3_ko.indd 214 23/01/13 11:29 AM

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