Niwiwan2005

Over the last 25 years, there has been quite a bit of innovation among the Northern style of singing. In your opinion, what types of innovations have occurred among the southern style of singing. I realize that southern style is steeped in a rich tradition from the various tribes of the southern plains, but do you all think there should be room for the type of innovation we've all seen in the north? Please, share your thoughts.

WhoMe

Niwiwan,

Some observations of change that I have seen in southern singing are:

1. Longer songs and leads to reflect northern style singing
2. Honor and emphasis beats to match northern style singing
3. Composing southern songs to sing for northern categories
4. Multiple southern drums sitting at the outside edges of the arena
5. Allowing dancers to sit and sing with a southern drum
6. Passing leads more than once
7. Leaving the southern drum to drum hop
8. An influence of singers under 25 composing songs and changing the direction of southern singing.
9. Northern singers being able to sing southern songs and do a great job!
10. and in the last 25 years there is the "new" concept of individual drum groups, which wasn't common 25 years ago.

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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

LSS

Wouldn't #4 be a matter of planning on behalf of the Committee?

__________________
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!

WhoMe

When in rome you roam. *L

Actually, if you are not in a drum setting where they put all the drums in the middle, then you sit on the inner perimeter of the circle. Some powwows, north and south have all drums either in the center or all drums on the inner perimenter of the dance circle.

Some southern powwows have both drums in the middle and on the outside.

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Another observation that I have noticed is that southern drums have conformed to singing "4 times through" on contest songs. This was not the case 20 years ago when southern contest songs were sung only 3 times through with a "warm up song" preceeding the contest song.

__________________
"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

LSS

Good point made here!

__________________
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!