Historian

What are the qualities of a great Southern Drum?

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"Be good, be kind, help each other. Respect the ground, respect the drum, respect each other."
--Abe Conklin, Ponca/Osage (1926-1995)

WhoMe

"Defining a great southern drum will depend on the eyes and ears of the beholder."

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To me a great southern drum:

1. Is well versed in the songs of their tribe(s).
2. Is is in touch with their community and tribal ceremonies.
3. Sings strong and blends well together.
4. Practices respect both around and, away from the drum.
5. Sings each song with both passion and precision.
6. Has "just the right song" for every occasion.
7. Has made their own original compositions to fit the times.
8. Has members who have been called upon to be head singers.
9. Was taught well by elders who were singers/mentors.

and

10. Practices humbleness and let's others boast of it's greatness.

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

PoncaPride

Agree with most of the comments but a little iffey on 7 & 8.

Gledanh Zhinga

I don't necessarily like to think negatively, but I thought of some things that seem to make a mediocre drum.

1. Hitting the drum too hard (popular nowadays).
2. Too many singers. Some of the old time drums had as few as 6 or 7 singers. My opinion. It gets a little crowded when you have more than a dozen.
3. Starting the song on the off beat.
4. Trashing out the drum with soda cans, butt cans, etc.
5. Individual singers arriving late at the drum.
6. Overbeat at the end of song or tail.
7. Starting a song incorrectly, and nobody seconds it, because they can't.
8. Singing at the wrong tempo for the type of dance.
9. Starting a song in a "barking style" instead of singing smoothly.
10. Putting Northern style honor beats in the song.

WhoMe

PPride,

I stand by my statements and here's why,

7. If singer's did not compose songs to fit the times, we would have no flag songs, veterans songs or individual/personal songs to recognize individuals living today.


8. Top southern contest drums that I respect (YellowHammer, Southern Thunder and Cozads) have individual singers who have been head singers for their tribal celebrations (and ceremonies) because of the knowledge and respect they have from their own tribes.

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

SouthernSinger

Haven't heard that many Southern Flag Songs other than those that have been around a while--veteran songs either for that matter--only about 10 or so that are commonly sung from the past decade. Not that I necessarily disagree with your point, just that you don't hear that many.

Singer

hobbs49

There's a really nice relatively new vets song (debuted about a year ago) for women veterans. Now that's a song for the times! You go girl!

A video of it being sung at Gathering in 2005 is in the PW.com gallery I think.

WhoMe

SSinger,

I agree on the tribal flag songs. They're really aren't that many.

To hear veteran's songs that you may have never heard, you need to visit the tribal veterans celebrations in Oklahoma. That's when they bring out tribal and individual/personal veteran's songs that are not commonly sung at powwows.

Can you imagine how different the beginning of a southern powwow would be - if flag and veterans songs hadn't been composed to fit the times?



hobbs49,

I agree.

The women's veteran's song debuted during the second commemoration of the death of Lori Piestewa that took place in Arizona.

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

southernsky

The quality's of a great southern drum.............YELLOWHAMMER!

or:
1. knowledge
2. full group of somewhat good singers
3. have your own songs
4. know your tribal songs
5. be able to sing strong for up to four days
6. at least 1 to 3 guys that can give a strong lead
7. power/volume
8. powerful second
9. HUMBLENESS
10. know when to sing the right songs
11. don't sing what your not suppose to
12. timing
13. stay in beat with each other
14. don't try to outsing the guys sitting with you/togetherness
15. if you can't sing as high as the rest of the group, at least act like your singing so you don't get points deducted...LOL
16. listen to and respect one another
17. know where you come from and what the drum is all about.
18. respect the dancers
19. always respect the drum
20. don't dress like gangsta's...cuz your not!! Your native american indian with a god given talent to sing for your people.
21. respect all the other drums out there
22. respect the whistle when your up north
23. ENJOY YOURSELF AND WHAT YOUR DOING!
24. have the ability to make dancers dance when singing, not walk around the arena bored waiting for a good song

There are probably a lot more but that is good for now!

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oO0southernsky0Oo

LSS

Here (and in other post) we've read a lot of great ideas on what could make a "great Southern Drum".

Is it safe to say that when Historian defines what a "great Southern Drum" is that we can define those qualities? OR, does polling for these characteristics here help define what he means?

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To get a true picture of your purpose in life, you only get the whole picture when you listen with your mind, your ears and your heart. This way The Creator has a direct connection with you and only you...no outside interference.

When you follow the will of IT that created you, understanding that your purpose is not for you...but for IT and all that IT has created, there can be no wrong except failure to be obedient. Only then do we jeopardize the gifts we are given.

Its not the final destination that defines us, rather the journey taken!