Traditional Iroquois Music compared to: Antonin Leopold Dvorak By: Patricia Bradley
The Iroquois Tribe Also known as: The Iroquois Confederacy, Haudenosaunee, and “People of the Long House” Territory spans Northeastern Woodlands of America and Canada Consists of 6 Native American nations Today about 45,000 Iroquois members live in Canada and about 80,822 in America
Iroquois Socials The Iroquois frequently held social gatherings within their communities These socials provided a time and place for the community to come together for music and dancing Always lead by an individual with specific duties called the “house-keeper” or “pusher”
Traditional Iroquois Music Played for religious and entertainment purposes Music always danced to counter clock-wise 3 main types of dances/songs Stomp, fish, and side-step shuffle Instruments used: Flutes, rattles, drums, and other various percussion instruments Music sung in antiphony Characteristics of Iroquois music: Rhythmic complexity, shifts in meter, call and response, short phrases, shouting, and tones based on the pentatonic scale
Iroquois Music and Dancing Video
Antonin Leopold Dvorak Composer of the Romantic Period Born on September 8, 1841 in Nelahozeves, Prague, Czech Republic Began music education at age 6 Played viola in Bohemian Provisional Theater Orchestra from 1860-1871 Left orchestra to compose in 1871 Married Anna Cermakova in 1873 and had 9 children together Became the organist for St. Aldabert’s Church in the 1870’s
Dvorak continued Befriended Johann Brahms in 1877 who helped him publish his works Received honorary degree from Cambridge University in 1891 Director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York from 1892-1895 Returned to Bohemia in 1895 1901-1904 succeeded Antonin Bennewitz as Director of the Conservatory in Prague Died in 1904 due to heart failure Buried in Vysehrad Cemetery in Prague
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor “From the New World” Also known as “The New World Symphony” Composed in 1893 Original numbered as his 5th symphony but renumbered Inspired by his travels in America and the native music he heard there (northeastern tribes such as the Iroquois) Consists of 4 movements: Adagio-Allegro Molto Largo Scherzo-Molt Vivace-Poco Sostenuto Allegro Con Fuoco
"I have not actually used any of the [Native American] melodies "I have not actually used any of the [Native American] melodies. I have simply written original themes embodying the peculiarities of the Indian music, and, using these themes as subjects, have developed them with all the resources of modern rhythms, counterpoint, and orchestral color."
Comparisons Both the Iroquois music and the New World Symphony use fairly short musical phrases Both use a call and response style between voices Both use drums (or bass voices) to keep a steady beat
Music Samples Iroquois Music: Our Mother's Song New World Symphony: Movement 2: Largo New World Symphony: Movement 3: Molto vivace
Works Cited http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois_music http://www.ctbluegrass.org/images/indian_turtlerattle2.jpg http://nativedrums.ca/media/woodland/imgs/600/drum67.jpg http://www.antonindvorak.com/antonin_dvorak.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/The_title_page_of_the_ autograph_score_of_Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k%27s_ninth_symphony.jpg/250px- The_title_page_of_the_autograph_score_of_Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k%27s_ninth _symphony.jpg http://www.rec.org/rec/maps/map_gif/Czech_Republic.gif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois http://data.mediarecall-data.com/wgbh/stills/mid/1T04R04_mid.jpg http://data.mediarecall-data.com/wgbh/stills/mid/1T04R07_mid.jpg http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Anton%C3%ADn_ Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k_with_his_wife_Anna_in_London,_1886.jpg/150px- Anton%C3%ADn_Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k_with_his_wife_Anna_in_London,_188 6.jpg http://www.dvoraknyc.org/images/dvoraksfamily.jpg http://s3.amazonaws.com/findagrave/photos/2001/222/dvorakantonin.jpg http://pimadiziwinsingers.com/
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