Background and History
Iroquois territory was located in upstate New York, in the northeast part of today’s United States. There are actually six different tribes in the Iroquois nation, but all of them share music and have similar cultures.
Iroquois instruments are similar to the instruments of the Cherokee. The Iroquois also use drums and flutes as their main instruments (1), and they fill their drums with water too to change their sounds (2). The Iroquois also sometimes used rattles, which were made of deer hide or turtle shells (1). Unlike the Cherokee, though, the Iroquois mainly use drums in their traditional music and do not depend on a lot of other instruments. Their drums are also much smaller than the Cherokee’s. Men, if they use them, usually play flutes to impress girls (2). Drums are so important in Iroquois music because they are used as background for dancing. In Iroquois culture, dancing is key—it is a way to socialize with members of other Iroquois tribes (3). Songs are announced and sung in the Iroquois language and the drums play tribal favorites as everyone dances (3). Iroquois music is mainly used for entertainment and for sharing happiness and feelings with other tribe members. It is not used as often for ceremonies or religious rituals. This makes Iroquois music important to their culture by creating tribal friendship. |
Social Dancing
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Dancing for fun was a very important part of Iroquois culture. It is how they traditionally met other tribes and performed for one another. Iroquois dances are based on the beat of the drum (3). To watch Iroquois dancers doing a few social dances, called the “stick” and “stomp” dances, click here. Notice how the dancers respond to the drummer’s words and playing—they change their style of dance based on how he calls out and beats the drum.
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Flute
The flute was not often used in social or religious ceremonies in Iroquois life. If it was played, it was played by itself. It could be used by Iroquois to express religious or personal music. But, most often, men impressed women by playing the flute (2). They would play songs for the women at night outside their homes if they wanted to get their attention (2). There are many Iroquois flute songs, and you can watch a demonstration of them being played here.
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Water Drum
Iroquois water drums are very small. They are around six inches tall, but still make a big noise (4). These drums are cut from wood and have about an inch of water inside of them to amplify their noise. These drums accompanied all Iroquois dancing. Today, carpenters make them on machinery, and you can see an example of how a water drum is made here. Then, you can play a real one in the center of the room!
Singing
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Iroquois singing is mainly special because it is sung in the Iroquois language. Even though singing usually takes a background position during drumming and dancing (1), it is crucial to the group’s movement and actions (3). You can listen to a short clip of singing in the Iroquois language by clicking here, or you can watch the dancing demonstration to see how singing and dancing work together in Iroquois ceremonies.
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References
1. “IROQUOIS INDIAN FACTS.” N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. 2. “Iroquois Nation.” Crystalinks. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. 3. “Earth Songs.” Ohwęjagehká: Ha’degaenáge:. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. 4. Bear, Jeff. SAMAQAN: Water Stories Extended Scenes-Water Drum. N.p., 2010. Film. |
Other Photos and Videos: Retreived From
Water Drum Photo: 12.water.drum.220.gif (GIF Image, 150 × 159 Pixels) - Scaled (0%). N.p. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. http://www.native-drums.ca/index.php/Drums/Water_Drum Flute Photo: a19a09cc3f879a4082.jpg (JPEG Image, 430 × 155 Pixels) - Scaled (0%). N.p. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. http://ariom.ru/forum/t19832.html&sid=4912e3270ac11f3696b90a4619c68ad9 Social Dances 1: Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Indian Dances and Songs Part 1. N.p., 2007. Film. Social Dances 2: Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Indian Dances and Songs Part 2. N.p., 2007. Film. Singing in Iroquois: Native American Celebration Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Flute. N.p., 2009. Film. Rattle Photo: Rattlecrop.jpg (JPEG Image, 308 × 193 Pixels) - Scaled (0%). N.p. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. http://wampumshop.startlogic.com/store/page9.html |