Ethnomusicology of the Flathead Indians

-The study of American Indian Music has historically been a significant part of American anthropology. The present work is an outstanding addition to the rather considerable bibliography on this subject... It is hoped that this book will receive the serious consideration that it deserves; it both convincingly illustrates the value of examining music for insights into human behavior and raises many issues germaine to problems of understanding the arts in relation to other institutions.-

--Robert A. Black, American Anthropologist

-This is one of the most thorough and detailed studies available of a single -musical culture-; as such it should occupy a place of basic importance in any general collection of books on music... Merriam's book is a significant contribution, not only to the literature on American Indian music, but to the study of music as an aspect of human experience and a part of social life.-

--Stephen Blum, Notes

-This study immediately takes its places as one of the major monographs on the music of a single American Indian tribe. It is the only study of music of this tribe; and we quickly see that the music, like the rest of the culture, stands squarely in the Plains tradition. Merriam's coverage is thoroughly in accord with the anthropological definition of ethnomusicology, -the study of music in its cultural context.- Flathead ideas about music, its sources and purposes, the instruments, and the categories of song are all treated in detail.-

--David P. McAllester, The Journal of American Folklore

-Merriam has done major field work in Africa... and among the Flatheads... This book... is an impressive study of music in the context of culture or social behaviour.-

--Barbara Krader, Man

-[Alan Merriam's] new work studies traditional music in the culture of the Flathead Indians of Western Montana...The assembly of data in both parts of the work, dealing respectively with context andmusical features, is clearly expert.-

--Peter Crossley-Holland, Folklore

-Merriam's work on the Flathead is sound.-

--Norma McLeod, Anuario

-Merriam superbly organizes his ethnographic material... Merriam's book constitutes a valuable contribution to our knowledge of Flathead music and its cultural setting.-

--Mieczyslaw Kolinski, Ethnomusicology

"The study of American Indian Music has historically been a significant part of American anthropology. The present work is an outstanding addition to the rather considerable bibliography on this subject... It is hoped that this book will receive the serious consideration that it deserves; it both convincingly illustrates the value of examining music for insights into human behavior and raises many issues germaine to problems of understanding the arts in relation to other institutions."

--Robert A. Black, American Anthropologist

"This is one of the most thorough and detailed studies available of a single "musical culture"; as such it should occupy a place of basic importance in any general collection of books on music... Merriam's book is a significant contribution, not only to the literature on American Indian music, but to the study of music as an aspect of human experience and a part of social life."

--Stephen Blum, Notes

"This study immediately takes its places as one of the major monographs on the music of a single American Indian tribe. It is the only study of music of this tribe; and we quickly see that the music, like the rest of the culture, stands squarely in the Plains tradition. Merriam's coverage is thoroughly in accord with the anthropological definition of ethnomusicology, "the study of music in its cultural context." Flathead ideas about music, its sources and purposes, the instruments, and the categories of song are all treated in detail."

--David P. McAllester, The Journal of American Folklore

"Merriam has done major field work in Africa... and among the Flatheads... This book... is an impressive study of music in the context of culture or social behaviour."

--Barbara Krader, Man

"[Alan Merriam's] new work studies traditional music in the culture of the Flathead Indians of Western Montana...The assembly of data in both parts of the work, dealing respectively with context andmusical features, is clearly expert."

--Peter Crossley-Holland, Folklore

"Merriam's work on the Flathead is sound."

--Norma McLeod, Anuario

"Merriam superbly organizes his ethnographic material... Merriam's book constitutes a valuable contribution to our knowledge of Flathead music and its cultural setting."

--Mieczyslaw Kolinski, Ethnomusicology

"The study of American Indian Music has historically been a significant part of American anthropology. The present work is an outstanding addition to the rather considerable bibliography on this subject... It is hoped that this book will receive the serious consideration that it deserves; it both convincingly illustrates the value of examining music for insights into human behavior and raises many issues germaine to problems of understanding the arts in relation to other institutions."

--Robert A. Black, American Anthropologist

"This is one of the most thorough and detailed studies available of a single "musical culture"; as such it should occupy a place of basic importance in any general collection of books on music... Merriam's book is a significant contribution, not only to the literature on American Indian music, but to the study of music as an aspect of human experience and a part of social life."

--Stephen Blum, Notes

"This study immediately takes its places as one of the major monographs on the music of a single American Indian tribe. It is the only study of music of this tribe; and we quickly see that the music, like the rest of the culture, stands squarely in the Plains tradition. Merriam's coverage is thoroughly in accord with the anthropological definition of ethnomusicology, "the study of music in its cultural context." Flathead ideas about music, its sources and purposes, the instruments, and the categories of song are all treated in detail."

--David P. McAllester, The Journal of American Folklore

"Merriam has done major field work in Africa... and among the Flatheads... This book... is an impressive study of music in the context of culture or social behaviour."

--Barbara Krader, Man

"[Alan Merriam's] new work studies traditional music in the culture of the Flathead Indians of Western Montana...The assembly of data in both parts of the work, dealing respectively with context andmusical features, is clearly expert."

--Peter Crossley-Holland, Folklore

"Merriam's work on the Flathead is sound."

--Norma McLeod, Anuario

"Merriam superbly organizes his ethnographic material... Merriam's book constitutes a valuable contribution to our knowledge of Flathead music and its cultural setting."

--Mieczyslaw Kolinski, Ethnomusicology

Alan Merriam