Explorations in Music

Why does this music sound different?

In Inuit folk lore the originators of this throat singing or Katajjaq weren’t humans but little birds called Tunirtuaruit and the humans of learned it from them. Inuit throat singing was banned over 100 years ago by Christian missionaries and has only now started to come back into practice. Current singers say it helps them feel connected to the past and their culture.

Inuit throat singing relies completely on the human voice and uses no man made instruments. The two singers usually share an close connection as they rely on this connection to play off each other by changing, rhythm, pitch, harmony and tone in tandem with each other. They singers are often seen swaying in time together in what seems to me as a way to keep time and forge that important connection. The singers use their throats, diaphragms and belly’s to produce noises imitating the sounds of animal, and nature in a rhythmic fashion and they keep going until somebody runs out of breath or as you see in a lot of cases starts laughing.

Opinion

I’m constantly amazed at the sounds the human body is capable of producing especially since a lot of the sounds used in throat singing are meant to replicate the sounds of animals native to the area. Katajjaq may seem very different compared to western music, but I find it extremely beautiful and I get very ethereal vibe from it. I’m very happy to see people enjoying parts of their culture that was previously considered lost because everybody deserves to have that connection with the earth and their ancestors.

Foden, Joel Balsam & Stephanie. “Canada’s Rising Inuit Tiktok Star.” BBC News, BBC, 25 Mar. 2022, http://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210414-a-revival-of-indigenous-throat-singing.

Folkways. “Explore.” Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, folkways.si.edu/throat-singing-unique-vocalization-three-cultures/world/music/article/smithsonian.

Quark Expeditions Team. “Inuit Throat Singing – a Mesmerizing Experience.” Quark Expeditions, Quark Expeditions, 12 June 2023, http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/blog/inuit-throat-singing-a-mesmerizing-experience.