Southwest

Southwest / Navajo

Deer hooves, buffalo hide and hair
ca. Early 20th century
Length: 11 in 
Idiophones – Struck Idiophones – Rattles

This Navajo deer hoof rattle is possibly a medicine rattle made from deer hooves connected by buffalo hide thongs. The handle is buffalo hide with hair, wrapped by strips of untanned buffalo hide.  Special about this Navajo rattle is that animal hides paid homage to the life forces of the animal world, while wood, which is not part of this rattle, is used to honor the growing things (plants) in nature.  Thus, this rattle was most likely used to celebrate the animal world and shows much usage.

Of the Native American aboriginal music, I learned from Kurt Sachs: 
 Such music cannot be bought in stores but comes from faithful tradition or from personal contributions of tribesmen.  It is never soulless or thoughtless, never passive, but always vital, organic, and functional:  Indeed, it is always dignified.  As an indispensable and precious part of culture, it commands respect.  And respect implies the duty to help in preserving it.