Kiowa music

The Kiowa are a federally recognized tribe, meaning there is a functioning government-to-government relationship between the United States Government and the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma.

Their traditional music is strongly focused on dancing, such as the Sun Dance ("k'aw-tow"). Their sun dance was adopted while they were migrating south in what is now the state of Montana. Mock sham battles, purifying sweat baths, erecting the center cottonwood pole, building the arbor, bringing the brush in, spreading sand on the ground, building the sacred Taime' alter, unveiling the Taime' by the Taime' keeper, dispersement of shields, ritual body painting, leading in the different pledgers/dancers by their clans accompanied by their painters, prayer, speeches, dancing, eagle whistle blowing, visions and feasting by the pledgers/dancers families were all traditional elements integral to the 4-day k'aw-tow. Modern songs called Brush Dance songs and Buffalo Dance songs commemorate the now outlawed Kiowa Sun Dance.

Kiowa music, one of the most heavily recorded tribal musics, is part of the larger Southern Plains Indian music genre. The Kiowa adapted their flag song from the Arapaho, their memorial song and the dance bustle in the O-Ho-Mah Lodge warrior society from the Cheyenne. The modern gourd dance adheres to Kiowa protocol and tradition with the majority of songs composed and/or handed down from Kiowa song makers. The Smithsonian Institute made recordings during the 1930s, '40s, and '50s that are close to 19th century music, while Indian House Records and Canyon Records began commercial recording in the '60s and '70s and Soundchief began recording in the '40s. (Carney and Foley 2003, p.287) Early 20th Century Kiowa recordings are housed in the Library of Congress/Archive of Folk Culture, Indiana University/American Indian Studies Research Institute, The Oklahoma Historical Society/Oklahoma History Center and The Kiowa Tribal Museum. Many Kiowa elders also retain a vast knowledge of traditional songs. New Kiowa songs continue to be composed each year for contemporary events, organizations and individuals.

Much of Kiowa music is related to the warrior societies of the 20th century. Society songs of the 19th century have been integrated into existing music. The Kiowas significant contributions to world music include the maintenance of traditions such as the Black Leggins Society, the Oh-Ho-Mah Lodge, the Kiowa Gourd Clan, Peyote songs, War Journey songs aka 49 songs, war mother songs, victory/scalp dance songs, hand game songs and hymns.

Prominent contemporary Powwow Drums led by Kiowa Singers include: The Cozad Singers, Bad Medicine Singers, Zotigh Singers and Thunder Hill Singers. All four drum groups have won the prestigious Gathering of Nations Southern Challenge.

Cornel Pewewardy (flautist and full blood Comanche/Kiowa) is a leading performer of Kiowa/Southern Plains music, including Kiowa Christian hymns which include prominent glissandos. (Broughton and Ellingham 2000, p.586)

ource

*Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark (2000). "Rough Guide to World Music Volume Two: Latin and North America, theCaribbean, Asia & the Pacific". ISBN 1-85828-636-0.
*Carney, George and Foley, Hugh Jr. (2003). "Oklahoma Music Guide: Biographies, Big Hits, and Annual Events". ISBN 1-58107-104-3.
*Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Resource Center.

External links

* [http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/extras/kiowa/kiowasng.htm Information on specific songs and dances]