And now for something a little different.
My experience on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation has shown me many different things musically. This is a song sung by the Blacklodge Singers and incorporates two cultures slamming together in a piece of music that is as entertaining as it is interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBcu6Gc5sCU
1. Mighty Mouse
2. Black Lodge Singers
3. Yakama Indians
4. 12 men and a single large bass drum
5. This piece helps us dive into the area of multiculturalism in our back yard. These singers are American citizens but have a unique musical style based on their Native American culture. This particular song is unique in that it is a song whose theme is a character of western civilization invention, but it is told through the means of the Native American culture using their rhythm schemes and modal melody types. By studying music of this type we can integrate music into the classroom on a very effective level because the theme of this music is something our students can attach themselves to. The theme is known, which makes the study of the music more palatable, especially for middle school aged students who are trying to find their own musical identity.
Andrew, This is a wonderful example of how the Native Americans have taken a Western theme, and blended it with their own musical culture. I LOVED it! Don't know how many kids these days even know about Mighty Mouse (Here I come to save the day!), though. Also, I had to copy/paste your link in a new screen to hear the music. It wasn't embedded live on your page. That may be why you didn't get any comments.
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