Music of the Inuit - The Copper Eskimo Tradition

Auvidis – D 8053

Series: Unesco Collection Musics & Musicians Of The World
Format: CD, Album
Country: Canada
Released: 1983
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Indigenous
[Tracklist]
01 Three connected songs: Jean Oqhena / Frank Kuptana (08:18)
02 Two connected songs: Frank Kuptana (06:10)
03 Joy: Jimmy Memorana (01:01)
04 The boat of the "Big Brows": Jimmy Memorana (01:09)
05 My song: Jimmy Memorana (00:39)
06 Song of Minto inlet: Jimmy Memorana (00:50)
07 Two dances from the Mackenzie Delta: The Mackenzie Delta drummers and dancers (01:07)
08 Dance from the Mackenzie Delta: The Mackenzie Delta drummers and dancers (01:02)
09 Two connected songs: William Qagyun, Frank Kuptana (05:29)
10 I am happy: Jimmy Memorana (00:52)
11 Boundless joy: Jimmy Memorana (00:43)
12 Coffee, tea and jam: Jimmy Memorana (00:54)
13 Two connected songs: Jean Oqhena (04:09)
14 Agnes Nanogak's song: Agnes Nanogak (00:40)
15 Birth of earthworms: Agnes Nanogak (00:56)
16 The song floats up within me: Jean Oqhena, William Qagyun (03:28)
[Credits]
Liner Notes and Recorder: Jean-François Le Mouël
[Notes]
The Inuit of the Canadian Northwest Territories follow two seasonal social patterns: hunting with families in the summer, and gathering for trade and intense spiritual activities with large communities in the winter. Traditionally, when these groups reunited at the start of the long, dark winter, they exchanged songs. Each person is believed to be a composer and performer; each song is a gift to be reciprocated, and the sharing of songs and dances was a way to strengthen the social fabric. Many songs on this album are about hunting, but it was forbidden to exchange songs whilehunting, or even while outdoors. The Inuit believed that under an open sky, "a spirit could steal the words and by seizing the breath of the singer, rob him of his life."