Origins: The Indian Intermezzo

Subject: Origins: The Indian Intermezzo
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 30 Aug 18 - 01:18 AM

In Segregating Sound author Karl Hagstrom Miller refers to Snow Deer as a “...Native American exotica number.” I hadn't heard that one before.

I do know the popular label at the time was “Indian intermezzo:”

“In 1901, Neil Moret’s “Hiawatha” set the course for others to follow. While the trend peaked around 1905, additional examples of this type of song appeared throughout the next decade. “Silver Bell” (1905) by Percy Wenrich, “Iola” (1906) by Charles L. Johnson and “Red Wing” (1907) by Kerry Mills are some of those best remembered. Earlier songs that dealt with the Indian had been around since the mid-19th century, and seemed to take their lead from Longfellow’s poem “Song of “Hiawatha.” But these “intermezzi” appeared and flourished in a later era, which paralleled the great popular music explosion of Tin Pan Alley.”
[From the Chatfield Brass Band link]

Not mentioned on Chatfield is the Indianist Movement hitting American classical music at roughly the same time.

More to follow...

Subject: RE: Origins: The Indian Intermezzo
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 30 Aug 18 - 01:28 AM

Songs already on Mudcat:

Arawana/Arrah Wanna
Falling Leaf
Hiawatha
Indian Maid, Silver Bell, Red Wing
Iola (tune of Playmate)
My Pretty Little Indian Napanee
St. Regious Girl
Snow Deer

Subject: RE: Origins: The Indian Intermezzo
From: GUEST,paperback
Date: 01 Sep 18 - 10:22 PM

Arthur Nevin's "Poia" Act I

"Arthur Nevin spent two summers with the Blackfeet Indians to collect musical material to use in his three act opera "Poia", which he finished in 1907.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Indian Intermezzo
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 09 Sep 18 - 05:21 PM

Maurice Baron: His first career, prior to becoming Lionel Belasco's American publisher, was in vaudeville, silent film and AM radio. A little more on the classical side than the average pop intermezzo:

An Indian Legend, Lègende Indienne, New York: G.Schirmer, 1921
Indian Wedding Festival, Written for orchestra as accompaniment to silent film. Dedicated to the Capitol Theatre Orchestra, New York City. New York: G. Schirmer, 1922.
Indian Plaint, an adaptation of the slow movement of Dvoák’s “American” quartet, for orchestral accompaniment to silent film. New York: G. Schirmer, 1924

Subject: RE: Origins: The Indian Intermezzo
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 03 Nov 18 - 02:41 PM

Posted the lyrics and links to sheet music for Daniels' Silver Heels in the Origins: FSU Seminoles Indian War Chant thread as that's where the sample of melody is most often heard nowadays.

The 1905 lyrics however, trend more towards the marital than the martial. Not very intimidating.