LSS

We had a thread started some time ago that talked about how young singers these days have taken over the Center Drum. This got me to thinking about the song selections used.

I wonder just how common are "new standby's" in your area? And since I've posted this question, I reckon I might wanna put a tag on the coin "new". I guess it's all relative in my opinion, but lets just say the last 10-15 years?

__________________
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!

hobbs49

Well this one's been sitting out here for a while now. So are you really asking, "What is the breakdown of new -v- old songs being sung?" Are you looking for an answer like, "where I live, 60% of the songs being sung have been composed/published within the last 10 years?"

Just trying to figure out where you're going with this question.

From where I sit (in the cheap seats) it seems that what gets sung is dependent upon the skill and experiences of the singers who lead songs. It would also seem to depend on finding the right song to follow the previous song to build the set. Using the right song for the occasion. Is it the Friday night session or the Sunday night session? These types of things I think determine what is sung much more than the age of the song.

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"It doesn't really matter, they don't know any better anyway."

TacO5000

what the h ell is the cheap seats hobb? splan dat?

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Dayum I make some keen DrumSticks!!!!!!

WhoMe

In Oklahoma, it is dependent on who the head singer is and his help. In Pawnee and White Eagle for example, I always expect to hear traditional songs sung in the respective Pawnee and Ponca languages.

This summer, I sang at the center drum with head singers over 65. The majority of songs they sang were more tribal specific and older.

If a younger head singer is leading, then he usually brings singers from his drum group to help and you will hear mostly songs from their drum.

When you go to the larger mega powwows and there is a drum contest, expect all the newer, drum specific songs to be sung.

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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

hobbs49

TacO, It's my name for that place at the drum where you're about as far away from the head singer as you can be. You're so far away that if you have three drums out there, you don't even hear the lead until the middle of the song. I've also heard others call it the kiddy table briinging out memories of large family gatherings where the kids don't get to sit with the grownups at the "regular" table.

Does that help?

__________________
"It doesn't really matter, they don't know any better anyway."

LSS

Ok...having broke it down like that for me...how often do you see the "younger" head singers?

LSS

__________________
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

Equally as frequent as I see the older head singers.

How young is young?

__________________
"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

legalstraight

I understand what you say about the kiddie table.

I think it may kinda depend on where you go. Urban areas or big inter-tribal powwos I think tend to have more recent songs than when you are at a powwow put on by one tribe. Fewer people speak the languages, and you have drums that are made up of multiple tribes.

I can think of a couple of prime examples of songs that aren't sung that often in inter-tribal company, mostly because they speak about the attributes of members of another tribe.

At the same time though I have seen drums that sing maybe 75% 'new stuff' (as in the person who composed the song is still alive) but the rest of their songs are oooollllddddd (like so old elders come up and say "I haven't heard that song since I was little).

Some of the new songs are good- I know one drum that has a fantastic P.O.W./M.I.A. song that was composed by them. Other times, it sounds like the second day of '49ing.

And I have seen at least a half dozen head singers younger than me, and I ain't got no grey yet and my pot belly is still smaller than the tire on my car. And those guys were goood.

LSS

I think a fair analogy would be that I am young and you're old j/k All jokes aside though...even age may not be a good account of one's experience around the drum.




Yeah...hair might be a clue but there is nothing exact about it...lol. I took my hair down and the gray is starting to show. I was like WOA!!!

__________________
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!