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From Shaking the Pumpkin - Jerome Rothenberg
Overview
This song-poem originates from the Seneca tribe and is chanted to begin their tribe's ceremonial season of rebirth called I'dos. The poem was transcribed by Jerome Rothenberg and was written and formatted in a way that exemplifies the dynamic and rhythmic nature that the chanted oral piece provides.
Context
This song-poem originates from the oral chants of the Senecan tribe which is located in New York and historically lived South of Lake Ontario.
Traditionally, this was a specific song sung by ceremonial leaders called hajaswas. Hajaswas sang these chants to begin the cycle of renewal the tribe called “I'dos” or “Onöndowa’ga:’ Gawë:nö׳” in the Senecan language. Onöndowa’ga:’ Gawë:nö׳ is translated to “Language of the People of the Great Hills.” I'dos is also translated to “Shaking the Pumpkin” and “The Society of the Mystic Animals.”
Often Senecan poetry does not make use of words at all and instead makes use of rhythmic sounds not found defined in the Seneca language. Much of this song's audible elements were included for effect and to add to the flow of the song throughout the oral performance.
Commentary
Much of the piece uses some of the sounds in the chant that are not words at all but are used for effect to create an audible flow and are used as a refrain to frame the rest of the song. Rothenberg also transcribed the song-poem with some notes that act somewhat like directions, which include information about the nature of the chanting and some notes about the speed at which the chant was performed at different intervals. Specifically, there is a note about the tempo of the last three 'songs' (which could be perceived as stanzas of a single song) increasing noticeably during the oral performance.
Bibliography
“A Conversational Seneca Language Page.” Seneca Language, 26 Aug. 2021, https://senecalanguage.com/. Responsive Website Design by Michael Rose http://www.rosemconsulting.com. “Seneca Indian Tribe.”
The Seneca Indian Tribe - Member of the Iroquois Nation, http://www.indians.org/articles/seneca-indian-tribe.html.
Responsive Website Design by Michael Rose http://www.rosemconsulting.com.
“Seneca Indian Tribe.” The Seneca Indian Tribe - Member of the Iroquois Nation, http://www.indians.org/articles/seneca-indian-tribe.html.
“Seneca People.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Feb. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_people.
