Acest album, editat la studioul danez Sweet Silence din Copenhaga, a aparut in anul 1992, si este acompaniat de volumul lui Michael Hauser, Traditional Greenlandic Music [Acta ethnomusicologica Danica] ce contine textele cantecelor, comentarii istorice si tehnice detaliate, partituri, fotografii de arhiva etc.

In introducerea la acest document de o inestimabila valoare, Hauser arata ca

Unfortunately, there are not many active singers in East and North Greenland. We may hope that the relatively small number of older, skilled drum - singers will pass on their knowledge to the young, so that inngerutit will exist in the future and be sung in the same way as they have been sung for generations.

Piesele pe care le-am ales (dintre cele 55 existente in album) sunt cele mai vechi inregistrari cunoscute de folclor iunuit. Asa cum puteti vedea in fisa tehnica a fiecarei melodii, ele au fost culese de catre William Thalbitzer intre anii 1906 - 1914.

Excelent pregatit, documentat si prezentat, acest album ar trebui luat ca model pentru asemenea intreprinderi. Nu vreau sa intru in polemici ieftine dar, vazand acest CD si modul in care a fost editat, mi-am amintit de Arhiva Institutului de Folclor C.tin Brailoiu din Bucuresti unde zac, necunoscute si nepublicate inca, de mai bine de un secol, zeci si zeci de suluri de ceara ce contin materiale insetimabile pentru folclorul romanesc. Odata pierdute, recuperarea acestora va fi imposibila… Lipsa de interes, de pasiune (adica de fonduri)…

Mai mentionez faptul ca Traditional Greenlandic… ocupa aproape intreaga arie locuita a Groenlandei: Est, Sud, Central-Vest, Uummannaq - Upernavik si Nord (inclusa Canada).

Ajukutok (man, b. ca. 1850)

Tasiilaq. (William Thalbitzer 1906)

Kayak-song

A kayak-song about the joy and strength gained from nature and the life as a sealer.

Alek’ajik (woman, b. ca. 1850)

Tasiilaq. (William Thalbitzer 1906)

Entertaining song

An ordinary entertaining drum-song. The phonogram cylinder is very scratched, but the song’s tone material is interesting.

Autdlaruta (man, ca. 1876 - 1941)

Umiivik in SE Greenland. (William Thalbitzer 1914)

Duel-song

A drum-duel song sung by Autdlaruta (trained as a shaman) against Kunisarvik.

Henrik Lund (1875 - 1948)

Alluitsup Paa. (William Thalbitzer 1914)

Ukuarlivarisaa

A historic recording of the renowned poet and pastor Henrik Lund singing a well-known an cherished song. It is a kind of qivittoq-song about “the rejected bride”, the daughter-in-law who was rejected by the parents of her beloved.

K’iwingatak’ (woman, b. ca. 1855)

Tasiilaq. (William Thalbitzer 1906)

Duel-song

The singer was about 50 years old at the time of recording and had thus spent most of her life in the untouched, tradition-bound community.

Kunnak (man, b. ca. 1845)

Tasiilaq. (William Thalbitzer 1906)

Uaajeerneq-song

A drum-song without words, intended for uaajeerneq.

Cateva trimiteri interesante:

Un articol intitulat Festive clothing and national costumes in 20th century East Greenland, puteti citi aici.

Emily Elisabeth Auger - The Way of Inuit Art

Carol Finley - Art of the Far North

Penny Petrone - Northern Voices

P.S. 1 O reeditare a acestui album dedicat muzicii traditionale inuite, puteti vedea aici (inclus un scurt preview audio).

P.S. 2 Carticica de prezentare a acestui CD este bilingva: text englez / inuit. Pentru deliciul cititorilor Lanternativei, iata un scurt fragment in aceasta limba:

Arnap erinarsuutaa una Kalaallit Nunaannit erinarsuutitoqqat immiunneqartut maanna pigineqartut pisoqaanersaraat.

[The present song is the oldest sound recording of traditional singing in Greenland.]