Miwok Music Project
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The Miwok Music Project explores the influence of music created by the indigenous people of Northern California through community singing, language instruction, song recording and documentation, and the creation of new music rooted in Miwok culture.
"It's very very powerful to hear the Miwok language being sung out loud by so many voices through this project; bringing to life the spirit of the culture through song informs, acknowledges, and preserves the influences of the Miwoks as an offering to all people." –Sky Road Webb, Miwok Storyteller |
The Miwok Music Project is a program of Sound Orchard and is supported primarily by contributions from individuals. Donations of any size are always welcome and deeply appreciated.
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Miwok Music Project
Pomponio
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This original song, produced by Sound Orchard, is a historical narrative in the Miwok language about Pomponio, a Coast Miwok rebel who was born in 1799 as a member of the Guaulen local tribe area of present-day Bolinas.
Under Spanish rule, Pomponio was taken to Mission Dolores in San Francisco in 1803. In 1818 he fled the mission and formed a band of rebels who called themselves Los Insurgentes and fought against the oppression of Spanish/Mexican rule and the mission system in California. Los Insurgentes raided missions and rancherias located between modern-day Sonoma and Soledad. Pomponio was legendary for his ability to elude capture, and for his heroic escapes on the occasions when he was captured. The song cycles through several local towns whose original names were from the Coast Miwok language. Tim Weed wrote and arranged the music for the song, and the Miwok lyrics were written by Tim Weed and Sky Road Webb. Copyright © 2015 Tim Weed & Sky Road Webb Translation Ule'mi má'cono, Omú mújmuti = Free us from oppression Ma né'nas mi 'audes = We honor your name |
Lyrics
Pomponio, Pomponio, whoa Pomponio Ule'mi má'cono, Omú mújmuti (Free us from oppression) Pomponio, Pomponio, Pomponio Ma né'nas mi 'audes (We honor your name) Bolinas, Bauli-n Ule'mi má'cono Olema, Olema-loke Ule'mi má'cono Punta Reyes, Tamal-huye Ule'mi má'cono Bahia Tomales, Etcha-kolum Ule'mi má'cono Ule'mi má'cono, Omú mújmuti Etcha-tamal, Nicasio Ule'mi má'cono Olompali, Novato Ule'mi má'cono Petaluma, Sonoma Ule'mi má'cono Soledad, Salinan Ule'mi má'cono Ule'mi má'cono, Omú mújmuti Pomponio Pomponio, whoa Pomponio Pomponio, Pomponio, Pomponio Ma né'nas mi 'audes |
Miwok Music Project
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Tamal Pais
Lyrics
Támal Pájis Támal Pájis Támal Pájis Támal Pájis Támal Pájis Támal Pájis Koko sút meléja Koko sút wéja Támal Pájis Támal Pájis Támal Pájis Támal Pájis Támal Pájis Támal Pájis Sút liwa kícculu Sút liwa ma ‘ússu |
Translation
The Right eye (Mt Tamalpais) of the Great Turtle The Right eye of the World Her tears are red We drink her tears Lyrics, translation and chant © 2015 Sky Road Webb Produced by Sound Orchard |
Miwok Music Project
Seven Directions
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Lyrics
Mu’k-’am Ka ‘Innii’ko (all my relations), Olum (south) Mu’k-’am Ka ‘Innii’ko, ‘Aala (east) Mu’k-’am Ka ‘Innii’ko, Ka’nin (north) Mu’k-’am Ka ‘Innii’ko, Ta’mal (west) Mu’k-’am Ka ‘Innii’ko, Ho’ime (below) Mu’k-’am Ka ‘Innii’ko, Lile (above, sky) Mu’k-’am Ka ‘Innii’ko, Ko’lwa (center) |
About this Song
This song is a prayer to honor the seven directions: south, east, north, west, below, above, and self. As each direction is chanted, the body is turned to face that direction. Lyrics, translation and chant © 2015 Sky Road Webb Produced by Sound Orchard |
Miwok Music Project
Walli Lume
by Sky Road Webb and Tim Weed
by Sky Road Webb and Tim Weed
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Lyrics
Henkami (breathe deeply and be resuscitated) Talahmi (stand up) Walli walli walli lume (great great great redwood) Ini'iko (family) this line mimics palatchak, the great red-headed (pileated) woodpecker |
About this Song
Tim Weed says:"As SkyRoad and I were preparing for an upcoming Sound Orchard sponsored Miwok Music Project presentation, we took a break to walk in the mixed redwood forest next to my house. While there, standing near one of the largest and most impressive trees, the first three parts of this song came to us. The next morning, I recorded the first three parts. Most of the songs that we teach have four parts and so I started searching for the missing part. After many failed attempts, I walked out to the great tree. As I approached, from the top of the tree I heard the loud call of a Pileated Woodpecker and that indeed was the missing fourth part!" Lyrics, translation and song © 2015 Tim Weed and Sky Road Webb. Produced by Sound Orchard |
Miwok Music Project
Red Salmon
by Sky Road Webb & Tim Weed
by Sky Road Webb & Tim Weed
ka’shi kitcu’lu - red salmon
‘echa liwa - behind the water
tcaké hii ‘untu - like the sun will
chewa’pa ‘upa - light up the rain
Lyrics, translation and song © 2015 Tim Weed and Sky Road Webb. Produced by Sound Orchard
‘echa liwa - behind the water
tcaké hii ‘untu - like the sun will
chewa’pa ‘upa - light up the rain
Lyrics, translation and song © 2015 Tim Weed and Sky Road Webb. Produced by Sound Orchard