The Northwest Coast area includes the coast of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia until the panhandle of Alaska and reaches about 100 km inland, just until the Cascade Range or coastal mountains of Canada. Several cultures developed here, that are, despite some analogies, also vary widely. But what they all have in common is a rich ceremonial and spiritual life, with enormous potential for artistic expression in music, legends and art. There are several different languages and due to the fact that there is no higher political order above the village hierarchy, the different cultures are divided into language groups.
The music of the Northwest Coast is different from those of other Native American tribes, but it also varies among the tribes of the area.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Foreword
- Introduction
- Research
- History of Research
- Research challenges
- Characterisation of First Nation music
- Musical Analysis
- Different fields of application / function
- Contact with the spiritual world
- Shamanism
- Feasts
- Types of songs
- Song and writing tradition
- Musical/Cultural Contact
- Reception / Ethnocentrism
- Discussion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work aims to explore the music of the Northwest Coast First Nations, focusing on its unique characteristics and its reception within a broader ethnocentric context. The study also aims to understand the challenges researchers face when studying this music and to highlight the need for more comprehensive analysis of existing recordings.- The uniqueness of Northwest Coast First Nation music
- The challenges of researching First Nation music
- The impact of ethnocentrism on the understanding and interpretation of First Nation music
- The need for more comprehensive analysis of existing recordings
- The role of traditional music in contemporary Native culture
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Foreword: This section introduces the topic of First Nation music and the author's initial observations about the creation of new Native songs. It outlines the challenges and motivations behind the research.
- Introduction: This chapter provides a brief overview of the geographical area, the diverse cultures of the Northwest Coast, and the importance of ceremonial and spiritual life in shaping their artistic expressions, including music, legends, and art.
- Research: This section examines the history of research on Northwest Coast First Nation music, highlighting key researchers and their contributions. It also discusses the challenges faced by researchers, such as the difficulty of distinguishing between tribes and styles, and the limitations of existing recordings.
- Characterisation of First Nation music: This section delves into the unique characteristics of Northwest Coast First Nation music, contrasting it with other Native American tribes. It explores various aspects of the music, including its musical analysis, its functions in different contexts, types of songs, traditions of song writing, and its interaction with other cultures.
- Reception / Ethnocentrism: This chapter examines the reception of Northwest Coast First Nation music and the impact of ethnocentrism on its understanding and interpretation. It analyzes how European musical standards have influenced the analysis and interpretation of the music.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work focuses on First Nation music, Northwest Coast, ethnocentrism, musical analysis, research challenges, recording analysis, and the impact of traditional music in contemporary Native culture. The text explores the rich cultural heritage of the Northwest Coast First Nations and the need for more culturally sensitive and nuanced research approaches.- Citation du texte
- Jakob Timm (Auteur), 2009, Music of the First Nations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/167490