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Frances Densmore - Song Catcher

Various Wax Cylinder Recordings

"Music serves as the vehicle for organizing a detailed account of traditinal religion, warfare, and social life, enriched by first-person narrations by the Lakota men and women who worked with Densmore from 1911 to 1914 to preserve their songs by means of a wax cylinder recorder, the modern technology of that period. The evident quality of the narratives (translations from Lakota) as well as the complete transcritpion and translation of all the Lakota lyrics to the songs, resulted from Densmore's close collaboration with Robert P. Higheagle, who shared her dedication to the project and was an exceptionally capable translator and cultural mediator. The material recorded here on such topics as dreams and visions, healing, the Sun Dance, and buffalo hunting - all with appropriate musical transcriptions and song lyrics - makes Teton Sioux Music and Culture one of the most significant ethnographic works ever published on the Sioux, as well as an important landmark in the study of ethnomusicology."
From the cover notes of Teton Sioux Music and Culture by Frances Densmore, 1918. Below are some of those recordings, made during the transition period to reservation life.

ici šni ya ... ... it is wrong
wi'lute ... ... your signal
        ... ... ("you guessed wrong")

Ptesan-nunpawin ... ... Two white buffalo
wakta yanka yo ... ... watch
ohunke šni ... ... the poor
otaye ... ... are many
heyapi canna ... ... whenever this is said
šunka wakan ... ... horses
wecunwe ... ... I donated

Songs From Porcupine   Honoring Irving Tail

The Porcupine Singers

"The current generation of Porcupine singers is proud to carry on a long-time tradition of traditional Lakota singing from the Porcupine District of the Pine Ridge Reservation of South Dakota. Thus, we have had singers in our families we can trace back to the 1860's. Since the 1960's, Porcupine Singers have travelled far beyond their home area to wherever their singing takes them.

Over the decades, members of the Porcupine Singers have composed songs that continue to be favorites of ours and are often sung by our fellow singing groups. Rather than guard our songs from being sung by others, we invite our fellow singers from all nations to feel free to sing our songs. We feel honored when they do! Thus we provide the texts and translations to share them.

The songs performed on this album were recorded at Porcupine, SD, during a New Years Celebration on December 31, 1996, and January 1, 1997. All the songs performed were composed by former or current members of our singing group.

With this album, we wish to honor one of our elder singers, Irving Tail, who has composed many powerful and beautiful songs to be enjoyed by all people!"

Current members:   Cedric Young Bear, Clyde Squirrel Coat, Brian Thunder Hawk, Tom Thunder Hawk, J.D. Goodhouse, Scott Means, Kristian Theisz, Ronnie Theisz, Melvin Young Bear, Calvin Jumping Bull, Severt Young Bear, Jr., Red Boy Means and Irving Tail.

Turtle Island Music     available from Four Winds Trading Company.

"Thanks for making our music available for people to listen to. Enjoyed your website."

Mita kola, omakiya po, omakiya po. Hoka wicaša wan le miyelo. Oyate kin wacinmayapi ca oiyokipi ca blihemic'iyelo.

Hoka wicaša wan le miyelo. Oyate kin wacinmayapi ca oiyokipi kta ca blihemic'iyelo.

My friends, help me, help me! I am a singer. the people need me, so since there is going to be a celebration here, I take courage.

I am a singer. The people need me, so since there is going to be a celebration here, I take courage.

Dearie, wauncina waki canna anpetu iyohila cante masice. Tohanl tiyata yaki kin wowapi cicu kte.

Dearie, we danced and when I got home, every day I was sad. Whenever you get home, I will write you a love letter.

Dearie, wiconiye ota ye, wiconiye ota ye itokasniye. Wancala wiconiye tokšas iyecetu kte.

Dearie, there are many ways to live, there are many ways to live. Don't worry about it! It will certainly happen.

Pilamaya! to the announcer, John Around Him!

Nake kola cemayaye, nake kola cemayaye, nake kola cemayaye, nake kola cemayaye, nake kola cemayaye.

At last, friend, you have made me cry; at last, friend, you have made me cry; at last, friend, you have made me cry; at last, friend, you have made me cry; at last, friend, you have made me cry.

Mitakuye Oyasin

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

"Dakota Tamakoce Singers has been singing in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota since 1984. The group is established as a teaching drum with a group of people that have the dedication to learning and sharing the Dakota culture. We have presented for groups of Scouts, several local colleges and schools, American Legion posts, various community organizations, and even the armed forces. We have also attended and sang at many pow wows in the five state region. Our web site offers the largest library of traditional Dakota songs. We also offer other information about various aspects of the Dakota culture and music."

Visit the Dakota Tamakoce Singers online

1.   Entrance Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

2.035 MB WAV

2.   49er Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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3.   Aim2 Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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4.   Boy Scout Honor Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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5.   Coyote Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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6.   Eyasita, Veterans Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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7.   Farewell Song, for Preston Thompson

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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8.   Flag Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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9.   Good Heart Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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10.   Grass Dance Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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11.   Grass Dance Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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12.   Grass Dance Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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13.   Grass Dance Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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14.   Inkpataya, Round Dance Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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15.   Intertribal Song

Brian - Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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16.   Intertribal Song

Trad - Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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17.   Intertribal Song

Trad - Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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18.   Intertribal Song

Trad - Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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19.   Pipe and Rattle Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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20.   Pipe and Rattle Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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21.   Sneak-up Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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22.   Stomp Dance Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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23.   Traditional Song

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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24.   Wacipo

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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25.   Wapesa

Dakota Tamakoce Singers

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