Yuman music facts for kids

Yuman music is the special music of the Yuman people. They are a group of Native American tribes who live in what is now Southern California and Baja California. Some of these tribes include the Paipai, Havasupai, Yavapai, Hualapai, Mohave, Quechan, Maricopa, Kumeyaay, Cocopah, and Kiliwa.

In Yuman culture, people believe that folk songs are given to them in their dreams. Sometimes, if someone is feeling sad or worried, they might go to a quiet, lonely place for a few weeks. They do this to receive new songs in their dreams.

Singing Yuman Songs

Yuman songs are often sung in special groups called cycles. Among the Mohave people, one song cycle can have anywhere from 50 to 200 songs! There are about thirty different song cycles in total. Singers say that they first dreamed all of these songs.

Performing a complete song cycle would take an entire night. The singers would often use rattles made from gourds, or they would beat on baskets to keep the rhythm.

Musical Instruments

While singing is the most important part of Yuman music, instruments are sometimes used. The main instruments are rattles. These rattles can be made from natural gourds or even from tin cans. They help add to the rhythm and sound of the songs.

Documenting Yuman Music

A filmmaker named Daniel Golding, who is from the Quechan tribe, made a movie called "Songs of the Colorado." This film shows singers from Yuman-speaking tribes in Arizona and Mexico.

Daniel Golding explained that the songs are all sung in the native language. He said, "The songs are all sung in the language, so if you're not learning and picking up the language, then you won't be able to understand the songs... there are actually words telling stories..." This means the songs help keep the language and stories alive.

The Yuman Indian Band

An interesting musical group called the Yuman Indian Band has been around since at least the 1920s. This was a marching band made up of members from the Quechan, Mohave, and other tribes. In 1981, the band changed its name to the Quechan Indian Band.

Important Yuman Musicians

Many talented people keep Yuman music alive today. Preston Arrow-Weed is a respected elder and lead singer from the Quechan tribe. Vernon Smith, also Quechan, and Dale Phillips, who is the vice chairman of the Cocopah Indian Tribe, are also important Yuman musicians. Jefferson Lewis is a younger singer who is helping to carry on the traditions.