Haudenosaunee Music

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy — comprising the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora nations — has one of the richest musical traditions in North America. Music permeates social, ceremonial, and political life within the longhouse tradition. The water drum — a small wooden or clay vessel partially filled with water, covered with a wet hide — produces a distinctive resonant sound unique to Haudenosaunee music. It is played alongside the horn (or cow horn) rattle in social dance songs. The water drum's pitch changes with the amount of water inside, allowing subtle tonal variation. Social dances — including the Stomp Dance, Smoke Dance, and various animal dances — use song to build community cohesion. The Condolence Ceremony uses specific songs to mourn leaders and raise new ones. The Green Corn Ceremony and Midwinter Ceremony both feature extensive musical components. NOTE: Many Haudenosaunee ceremonial songs are restricted and are not documented here. This entry covers the publicly shared social dance and recorded musical traditions.