Navajo Songs, recorded by Laura Boulton, 1933, 1940, including Ben Hudson Begay, Joe Lee and Pablo and Frank Huerito, Smithsonian Folkways, 1992.
Driving to Las Vegas early in the morning the only radio station that would come in was from Window Rock New Mexico. They would play country music but they would also play Navajo songs which I enjoyed, even though I did not understand a thing.
This C.D. includes ceremonial songs as well as game songs. In includes a section from the Yeibichei which is a sacred curing song. They first call and talking god. The ceremony includes masked dancers, sand paintings, chanting and high energy dancing. The goal is to restore balance, harmony and health. These six songs had the same kind of feel. Also included are corn grinding songs, sway songs, circle dance songs, and moccasin game songs. Circle dance songs are used for the round dance which can be very powerful.
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