Article
Throat singing of the Inuit
stiller@hkw.de
Alacie Tullaugaq and Lucy Amarualik are amongst the most well-known singers of the Inuit. The two women from north Quebec have now demonstrated their skills at Katajjak throat singing in more than a dozen countries.
Alacie Tullaugaq and Lucy Amaarualik are amongst the most talented singers of the Inuit. Both now live and work in Puvirnituk, a village in Nunavik in north Quebec, in Canada. 64-year-old Alacie Tullaugaq has now given Katajjak performances in approximately a dozen different countries. Her 65-year-old partner, Lucy Amarualik, learned the technique of throat singing from her mother and grandmother.
Katajjak throat singing is usually practised by two women stading directly opposite one another. This is also the case with Alacie Tullaugaq und Lucy Amarualik: at their performances, they stand so close together that they can use one another as additional resonators. At the same time, they make use of different vocal techniques, with variations in speed and basic patterns. The songs are based on individual syllables or words whose interrelation and acoustic changes are inspired by the sounds of nature. The songs are modulated with opened or closed mouth, out of the head, the throat or the stomach, while breathing in, light breathing, panting or blowing. Voice and breath use the whole body as a sounding board. The women of the Inuit, however, have a particular playing tradition: pressed closely together, they sing to one another – with astonishing coordination and speed, which produces amazing stereoscopic sound. The singing, performed at joint celebrations as well as when the women hold private gatherings; it is understood as a game which does not finish in any established place. Songs of throat singing end when the singers run out of breath, they have to laugh, or they are simply lacking in inspiration.
Their first CD appeared on the market in 1998, with the title "Katutjatut – Throat Singing". So far, they have been on concert tours in Montreal, Seattle, Toronto, San Francisco, and New York, as well as in England and Germany.
Katajjak throat singing is usually practised by two women stading directly opposite one another. This is also the case with Alacie Tullaugaq und Lucy Amarualik: at their performances, they stand so close together that they can use one another as additional resonators. At the same time, they make use of different vocal techniques, with variations in speed and basic patterns. The songs are based on individual syllables or words whose interrelation and acoustic changes are inspired by the sounds of nature. The songs are modulated with opened or closed mouth, out of the head, the throat or the stomach, while breathing in, light breathing, panting or blowing. Voice and breath use the whole body as a sounding board. The women of the Inuit, however, have a particular playing tradition: pressed closely together, they sing to one another – with astonishing coordination and speed, which produces amazing stereoscopic sound. The singing, performed at joint celebrations as well as when the women hold private gatherings; it is understood as a game which does not finish in any established place. Songs of throat singing end when the singers run out of breath, they have to laugh, or they are simply lacking in inspiration.
Their first CD appeared on the market in 1998, with the title "Katutjatut – Throat Singing". So far, they have been on concert tours in Montreal, Seattle, Toronto, San Francisco, and New York, as well as in England and Germany.
Author:
Works
Katutjatut – Throat Singing
Published Audio,
1998
Projects
This artist took part in the following project(s) organized/funded by the culturebase.net partner institutions.
Festival of Traditional Music
(11 June 89 - 15 October 97)
