Book

Enemy Way music

The Museum • 41 (3) • Published In 1954 • Pages: ix, 96

By: McAllester, David Park.

Abstract

This source attempts to explore Navajo cultural values as they are expressed through music. It is the third monograph in the Rimrock Project, Values Series, published by the Peabody Museum. Data are based on numerous interviews with eleven principal informants, participant observation at several ceremonies, and a questionnaire. Following a lengthy description of the Enemy Way ceremony, author moves to the presentation and analysis of Enemy Way music. The secular songs are divided into four types: Sway Songs, Dance Songs, Gift Songs, and Circle Dance Songs. There are text examples for each followed by text and melodic analyses. The author then goes on to deal with the music of the Peyote cult and the Galilean Christian mission as examples of acculturation. Esthetic values and cultural values as expressed in music are then discussed in terms of Navajo ethos. The source is noteworthy for the music examples and its description of the Enemy Way ceremony. However, the researcher should note that the cultural analysis borders on condescending and relies on stereotypes of Navajo behavior. At several points the author refers to the Navajo as 'unsophisticated traditionalists' (p. 83) or notes the 'simple, childlike' quality of their humor (p. 87).

HRAF PubDate

2004

Region

North America

Sub Region

Southwest and Basin

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Types

Ethnologist

Musicologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Richard A. Wagner ; 1985

Field Date

1950-1951

Coverage Date

1950

Coverage Place

New Mexico, United States

Notes

David Park McAllester

Music examples are found in OCM category 539

Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-96)

LCCN

a 55003051

LCSH

Navajo Indians