RARE CBC NORTHERN SERVICE TRADITIONAL INUIT MUSIC 2 LP SEALED NATIVE CANADIAN

$

34

You are bidding on TRADITIONAL INUIT MUSIC .

This is s a 2 LP set  issued by the CBC Northern Service released in 1986 and a sealed copy. 

These were produced in limited numbers and are no longer in print. 

Below is a history of these rare recordings. See my other auctions for more sealed LP’s from this series.

Buyer pays $14  shipping to the US or $19.00 overseas by surf ace.

 THE HISTORY OF CBC NORTHERN SERVICE

BROADCAST RECORDINGS

PERRY LINTTELL,

Communication Officer

CBC Northern Service,

Box 3220, Station C,

Ottawa, Ontario,

Canada, K1Y 1E4.

When I was a child I didn't know the meaning of the

songs. I thought at the time they were just for fun and that

they belonged to the shamans. Now I know they are not

only for shamans, they are for the whole world to enjoy.

—     Donald Suluk, Inuit singer.

Historical journals dating back to 1752 reveal Greenlandic missionaries

may have been the first non-Native settlers to hear traditional

Inuit music.

Today, due in large part to CBC Northern Service Radio and its

broadcast recordings, traditional and contemporary Native music is

very popular among both Native and non-Native residents of the

Northwest Territories, Arctic Quebec and the Yukon. Southern Canadians

are also gaining a greater appreciation for the unique

linguistic and musical styles of Canada's northern talent. Former

Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Marcel Masse, Minister of

Communications have both enriched their music libraries with CBC

recordings of northern performers.

The producer of the Opening Ceremonies of the 1988 Winter

Olympics in Calgary was so impressed with Daniel T'len's broadcast

recording he invited him to sing “O'Canada” in Southern Tutchone

(a Yukon Indian dialect). That performance was heard by hundreds

of millions of people around the world.

In order to ensure that there is a strong representation of northern

music on CBC radio stations, Northern Service is continuously

involved with talent development and broadcast recording production.

Artists are found in a variety of ways. Northern Service Radio

292 Brief Communication production centres in the north recommend people and demonstration cassettes are sent to the producer of broadcast recordings.

Others are seen and heard at various concerts in the north.

 Over the years, more than 75 performers have been recorded.

Recording sessions are generally held at Marc and Snocan

Studios in Ottawa. During a four day session, the music is set down

on 16 tracks and remixed. Usually four members are used in the

backup band. Each is capable of playing more than one instrument.

The result is great variety in instrumental sounds.

Some of the recent backup musicians have impressive musical

credentials. Randall Prescott, “Country Music Producer and Instrumentalist

of the Year”; Peter Fredette, bass player with the Kim

Mitchell Band; Mich Pouliat, drummer with K.D. Lang; Steve Pitico,

guitarist with the Family Brown; Tracy Brown, vocalist with the Family

Brown; and drummer Ron Prescott.

Most years, three long playing albums of northern music are

recorded. These records are sent to CBC stations, community

access radio societies, Native broadcast access organizations, and

to selected radio stations and contacts in Greenland and Alaska.

Broadcast recordings of Native performers began in the early

1970's. Northern Service had long since established radio production

centres in the north. However, the introduction of Cree and

Inuktitut language programming on the CBC shortwave service to

northern Quebec was the true beginning of the relationship.

Inuit listeners were excited at the prospect of hearing their own

language and music on shortwave for the first time. As a result, Elijah

Menarik, host of CBC's “Isumavut” program received “basement”

style music cassette recordings, featuring Inuit performers. The

music became increasingly popular even though it was poorly recorded,

usually with single voice and guitar.

Producing radio programs with cassettes proved awkward. Control

rooms were normally equipped with reel-to-reel and turntable

playback facilities. As a result, it was decided seven inch extended

play discs would be better for programming convenience.

The Inuit Cultural Institute in Eskimo Point also realized the

importance of broadcast recordings in promoting their cultural heritage.

The I.C.I. was able to help Inuit composers and musicians

receive memberships with performing rights societies, a valuable

first step towards putting northern artists on a fully professional

recording and royalty income footing.

In 1973, CBC Northern Service produced the first set of 45 rpm

records. Both discs featured Charlie Panigoniak accompanied by

Mark Etak.

The next recording session took place in 1975. Again two 45 rpm

records were produced featuring The Sugluk Group from Sugluk

(now known as Salluit), Quebec.

In the late 1970's a substantial budget was established by CBC

Northern Service to enhance the recording sessions. Many Native

musicians were flown to a recording studio in Montreal and backup

Brief Communication 293

musicians were also introduced.

Altogether, about 120 records were produced during this period,

each containing about six musical selections. As a rule 500 discs

were pressed for each recording. They were distributed to North

American radio stations, as well as music critics. Each artist also

received a small supply.

Some of the early 7 inch records included: William Tagoona,

Charlie Panigoniak, Alexis Utatnaq, Alanis Obamsawin, Charlie

Adams, William Ekomiack, Hank Karr, Delta Drummers, Morley

Loon, Willie Thrasher, Joe Loutchan, Tumasi Quissa, Joanasi

Qaqutu and many others.

As well, seven long playing records were commercially produced

from these discs. Unfortunately, they are no longer available.

Remuneration for the musicians was, and still is, paid in the form

of A.F. of M. Broadcast Recording fees and royalties for on-air play.

By the early 1980's CBC Northern Service had moved the

Montreal production unit to Ottawa. A program director further

increased the quality of broadcast recordings. More time was taken

in the recording studio with more backup musicians, when required.

These records were pressed as 12 inch stereo LP's.

Thirty-five 12 inch LP's have been produced, of which an exciting

series of seven records are commercially available.

That series, released in 1986, features Peter and Susan Aniqmiuq,

Etulu Etidlouie, Norman Glowach, Charlie Panigoniak with

Lorna Tasseor, Joe Loutchan, William Tagoona and a double album

of traditional Inuit music.

These quality albums represent examples of Inuit songs passed

down through countless generations, fiddle music common to community

dances and festivals across the north, contemporary “southern”

melodies blended with northern lyrics, and a special album of

music just for children. The entire series is available from CBC

Northern Service.