American Indian Turkey in the Straw

Subject: RE: American Indian Turkey in the Straw
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 09:49 AM

White Americans should learn American history and American Indians don't speak for or know about all Indians, so they should read that history also.

SRS

Subject: RE: American Indian Turkey in the Straw
From: GUEST,Johngates100
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 02:09 AM

I am writing this message for the readers who are just here to read.

There are many online resources where you can find that kind of old and new information about the American Indian Dialogue and music.I think White Americans should also study the history of America.

Subject: RE: American Indian Turkey in the Straw
From: Goose Gander
Date: 30 May 08 - 12:46 PM

Vaguely related: On 'Sugar in the Gourd' (MSOTFA-301), Bill Graves of Missouri plays and sings a version of 'Turkey in the Straw' on the dulcimer his Cherokee grandfather made. I'll listen to it again and post the lyrics if they are distinctive or otherwise interesting.

Subject: RE: American Indian Turkey in the Straw
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 03:09 AM

This is probably thread creep, but I figured that lovers of this tune would read this anyway. In the early days of Boogie Woogie some dear soul added a boogie bass line to the straight melody line. Coutesy of MMario I'll arrange to post it to Mudcat MIDIs. I haven't played it yet and it's prpbably a bit fast for me on double bass, but keyboard and elctric bass players should enjoy it. Regards, John

Subject: RE: American Indian Turkey in the Straw
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 26 Oct 00 - 11:02 PM

OK, I'm home, and here's what it says about the song in the liner notes to 'Wood That Sings: Indian Fiddle Music of the Americas,' SF 40472:


*** Track 21. Turkey in the Straw / Assiniboine Nakota / Wisconsin
Georgia Wettlin-Larsen. Recorded by John Tyler at The Barns of Wolf Trap, Folk Masters, March 1995.

This is an Ojibwe vocal version of the fiddle classic "Turkey in the Straw." Georgia Wittlin-Larsen has roughly translated the lyrics into English as: "My sweetheart and I are going to the edge of the woods. She is bringing a blanket and I am bringing a little red pillow" Wettlin-Larsen says, "I sang this song many times up in Ojibwe country and, more often that not, elders would come up and say, 'Oh, I can't believe I'm hearing this song again; I have not heard that song since I was a little girl or little boy, when my grandmother or grandfather would sing it, and you don't know how wonderful it makes me feel to hear that song again.' One grandma said the same thing, but she added, 'Oh, but you know what? You left out a part. You forgot to say that they came back with a little baby.' I said 'Okay, grandmother, I will try to remember to put that in'"

-from transcript of Folk Masters concert, March 31, 1995

***
In the liner notes' discography, it mentions that the song came from 'Songs of the People,' by Georgia Wettlin-Larsen, but Kat already said that:)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: American Indian Turkey in the Straw
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 26 Oct 00 - 03:57 PM

Drat! Didn't work. I was trying to link the sound without endorsing the company... Ah well. Go to CDNow and listen, if ya want ;P

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: American Indian Turkey in the Straw
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 26 Oct 00 - 03:55 PM

Awww, Kat beat me to it, and with better info! ;) I took too damned long typing, eh? Here's what I was writing; I'll include it just because I recommend a kick-ass cd, and to see if the sound sample link works:

"I don't know if it's the same song, but an a capella, American Indian version of Turkey in the Straw is on a compilation cd called 'Wood That Sings---Indian Fiddle Music of the Americas' on Smithsonian/Folkways(very good cd, btw), sung by Georgia Wettlin-Larsen from Wisconsin, according to the S/F website. If I remember right, the first part is in an Indian language, and the last bit is in English. It's a pretty cool song. I've got the cd at home, so I can copy the info out of that when I get there tonight. Or if someone else has the cd, go ahead and beat me to it:) I dunno if this will work, but try clicking here for a sound sample in the Windows Media format. :)"

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: American Indian Turkey in the Straw
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Oct 00 - 03:33 PM

It is Ojibway and you can find out about it by clicking here.

The main page I found that one from is here.

Thanks for asking. I just found some mroe fun stuff to investigate!

kat

Subject: RE: American Indian Turkey in the Straw
From: Hollowfox
Date: 26 Oct 00 - 03:18 PM

Yahoo yielded up 18 sites dealing with Northern Exposure. http://www.nx-misc.net seems like the best bet, as it has an aural section. With that many fans out there, somebody should come up with something.

Subject: RE: American Indian Turkey in the Straw
From: GUEST,Fretless
Date: 26 Oct 00 - 02:41 PM

Sorry, intriguing.

Subject: American Indian Turkey in the Straw
From: GUEST,Fretless
Date: 26 Oct 00 - 02:40 PM

Some years ago, the TV show Northern Exposure aired an episode in which the background music consisted of the tune Turkey in the Straw, sung a cappella, with words in an American Indian dialect/language. The same song is played as background in one of the exhibit halls in the New York City branch of the Museum of the American Indian. Curators at the museum have not been able to identify the source of the recording, nor have I been able to locate it by other means. Does anyone have suggestions for a source for this intreguing piece of music? .

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