Yaqui Music

Yaqui music is the music of the Yaqui tribe and people of Arizona and Sonora. Their most famous music are the deer songs which accompany the deer dance. They are often noted for their mixture of American Indian and Catholic religious thought.

Their deer song rituals resemble those of other Aztec influenced groups though is more central to their culture. Native and Spanish instruments are used including the harp, violin or fiddle, rasp, and rattles.

A display at the Arizona State Museum depicts the deer dance and provides a rendition of a deer song. Because the melody spans a modest range, it is ideally suited to instruments that have a limited pitch range, and has been transcribed for the Native American Flute.