Eagle Dance: The Arapaho

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The Arapaho is a Native American Tribe. This chant, known as the “Eagle Dance” is given its distinct metrical rhythm because of a drum that is hit on every beat, giving it the feeling of a duple meter. This drum maintains an even tempo throughout the chant, from the first 4 beats which serve to introduce the chant, all the way through. The chanting vocal group is very free, they are speak singing throughout, and there are many people in the group including a primary upper voice and many voices underneath. This primary upper voice also sings performs for a small portion of the chant, transitioning to the repetition of the main melody. One part of this melody, in the lower register, maintains a mostly steady pitch, modulating a whole step up