Chapter 1 in the book Music of the First Nations by Tara Browner, with Paula Conlon leading the discussion in the chapter, allows readers to learn that the Iglulik Inuit culture(s) do not fair too much differently from other Native American cultures. However, there a few significant practices in their cultures that make them stand out from the rest as being unique in their own special ways. These practices are usually present in the ways in which these Native Americans go about making their own music, which includes everything from the creation of song lyrics and drums to live musical rituals and/or performances by the Native Americans. One of the main similarities between the Iglulik Inuit people and other fellow Native Americans is present in the live musical gatherings and events that they hold. In comparison to other Native American cultures, the Iglulik Inuit people see the importance of many individual elements of music working together to add to the brilliance of a live musical performance, including the melody, lyrics, and the forms of dancing to the music. Besides this, the Iglulik Inuit also use live musical performances as ways of communicating with one another, sometimes making funny statements toward each other as part of traditional gatherings. Despite this, the Iglulik Inuit also consider the idea of physical violence (sometimes in a form of hand-to-hand combat) as a part of musical competitions, which is something never mentioned about in other Native American cultures that the class has talked about so far.
Another one of the main similarities is present in how the Iglulik Inuit people make drums. The main commonalities include that the top cover of a drum is made from animal skin. In addition, it is common that this cover, "is bound tightly to the frame with sinew or string" (Conlon & Browner 10). However, there is a major difference in the making of the mallet that is used to play this drum, being that is made from the outer layer of a seal. This is no too common among several Native American tribes, because the Iglulik Inuit people live up more towards the northern tip of the planet in the eastern Arctic regions of the Earth above the United States of America. One other main similarity in the Iglulik Inuit culture that is reflective of other Native American cultures involves the specific relationship that individuals might have with their own music. It is mentioned that like other Native American cultures, "the character of Iglulik Inuit is personal" (Conlon & Browner 9). However, despite this fact, the Iglulik Inuit people tend to leave their music open to all eyes and ears wanting to take a look at and analyze it, and hear for themselves. The book mentions an example of this when is states, "For instance, it is not necessary to ask permission before singing someone else's song" (Nattiez 1988: 45, Conlon & Browner 9). This is something that was never discussed about in discussions on other Native American culture that took place in class. The main similarities, and some difference, between the Iglulik Inuit and other Native Americans are significant in their own ways.
On another note, it is important to discuss how the Native American drumming styles and compositions of the Rain, Ghost, and Sun dances in certain Native American cultures compare with other general forms of Native American drumming present in other Native American music compositions as well as with African American drumming patterns and compositions as well. Some similarities that can be found revolve around how drums and other musical instruments are incorporated into and/or used in a composition. These common features include drums being played in constant, repetitive beats that carry on throughout an entire composition, and that different sections in a song are always indicated by specific changes in instrumental patterns that occur at specific points. Besides this, another general instrument of choice shared among these cultures is some variation of a metallic instrument that makes some sort of jingling noise, which might be a bell in some cases. Other similarities are present in the lyrical context of Native American and African American musical compositions. This involves how singers usually perform the lyrics in a kind of chanting tone of voice and use different pitches in their vocal ranges at specific sections in their songs. In addition, specifically among the Sun, Ghost, and Rain dances, as well as other Native American compositions, is the usage of certain vocables, such as "hey," "ya," and "ho." One other main similarity between these forms of cultural music is that they are all used at certain times for specific cultural events and/or celebrations that are extremely significant to the respective culture that a certain kind of music belongs to. In connecting with this idea, a common thing between these different kinds of music is that they each can unify the people that make them up in one way or another. The commonalities between these different cultures' music are definitely significant in there own ways.
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