Maliseet Love Song -
Sheet Music for Native American Flute

Maliseet Love Song – Original Curtis Transcription

The Maliseet Love Song was collected by Natalie Curtis (Burlin) in the early 1900s and published in The Indians' Book ([Curtis 1907]).

Click on the image at the right to see the original transcription and related notes.

Recordings

Here is a recording I did on our Recording Kiosk over a backing track played by Jim Parker. This is in the key of G minor at 90 beats / minute, played three times:

Maliseet Love Song

Clint Goss and Jim Parker. G minor flute by Steve Petermann.

… and here is an excerpt of a recording by Laura Lee Perkins and Ken Green from thier First Light CD ([Perkins 2000]):

Maliseet Love Song (excerpt)

Laura Lee Perkins and Ken Green. Track 1 of First Light.

Backing Tracks

Backing tracks in various keys and at various tempos are available for this song (and based on this transcription) on the Flute Haven Recording Kiosk web site.

Maliseet Home Range

Elda Tate's Version

Maliseet Love Song – Elda Tate Transcription

The second image at the right shows a transcription by Elda Tate from [Tate 2004], based on the Natalie Curtis transcription. However, notes some differences:

• The tempo marking is significantly faster: a half note = 80 beats / minute rather than what appears to be the original notation of a half note = 50 beats / minute. I'm not sure if this is intentional or a transcription error.
• The melody has been substantially altered from the Curtis transcription. I believe that this is an attempt to accommodate a starting note of , which seems to cause issues throughout the melody.

Transcription and Performance Notes

First of all, note that I've dramatically changed (and simplified) the time signature from the original transcription.

Second, I've selected a starting note of , which seems to solve the issues of the Tate transcription, while still keeping the melody within the range of the low register of the instrument.

I have not included the tempo marking — feel free to use the tempo that suits the situation.

There are two versions for six-hole flutes, with slightly different fingerings. The first version uses the standard fingering and the second version uses some alternate fingerings that make it easier to play (for most people).

The melody is interesting in that it changes from major (first and second lines) to minor (third line) and back to major (fourth line). Also note that it uses phrases of seven bars rather than a typical eight-bar cycle.

Sheet Music - Six-hole Pentatonic Minor Tuned Flutes (Standard Fingering)

Maliseet Love Song - Six-hole Pentatonic Minor Tuned Flutes (Standard Fingering)

Sheet Music - Six-hole Pentatonic Minor Tuned Flutes (Alternate Fingering)

Maliseet Love Song - Six-hole Pentatonic Minor Tuned Flutes (Alternate Fingering)

Sheet Music - Five-hole Pentatonic Minor Tuned Flutes

Maliseet Love Song - Five-hole Pentatonic Minor Tuned Flutes