Podcast directed by Catherine Ego and Mathieu Lavigne with Jean-Jacques Nattiez in Montréal
Musicologist and ethnomusicologist Jean-Jacques Nattiez has been interested in Inuit music since the early 1970s. He recently published "La musique qui vient du froid. Arts, chants et danses des Inuit", a colossal work that synthesizes almost half a century of work on the famous throat singing and drum dances, as well as the songs associated with them.
The fruit of long and patient research and editing, this erudite and passionate work is accompanied by a wealth of online resources, including sound recordings, videos and archival documents. The book features no fewer than 200 illustrations, including splendid Inuit works of art - sculptures, drawings and prints.
Speaking to Catherine Ego, Jean-Jacques Nattiez shares with us his passion for the arts of the circumpolar circle, which he links to the singular worldview of the Inuit. He also expresses his deep admiration for the inventiveness, virtuosity and perseverance of the Inuit men and women who have enriched, transmitted and constantly renewed their fabulous musical heritage over the centuries.
Jean-Jacques Nattiez is a member of the Ordre national du Québec (2001), the Order of Canada (1990) and the Royal Society of Canada (1988).
With "La musique qui vient du froid. Arts, chants et danses des Inuit", he won the Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros, the Prix du livre France Musique-Claude Samuel and the Prix Opus for the best book on music - 2023.
The musical excerpts quoted in the program come from the “Sound extracts, videos and other content” section of the Presses de l'Université de Montréal website accompanying the book: https://bit.ly/3PBIjqk
Extract 1 (07min07sec) - Disc 41, part 52_Niaquinaq [Category: so-called narrative games] CD "Canada. Jeux vocaux des Inuit (Inuit du Caribou, Netsilik et Igloolik)", Ocora/Radio France and Faculté de musique de l'Université de Montréal, 1989, C559071 and HM 83.
Extract 2 (15min37sec) - Disc 15, track 02_SongOfDrumDances-Pisit-ThreePisiitLinkedTogether [Category: Drum dance songs (pisiit)] CD “Canada - Inuit Iglulik”, Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin (Abteilung Musikethnologie), Music Collection Berlin CD 19, 1983.
Excerpt 3 (23min29sec) - Disc 41, piece 63_Quanaqtuq [Category: narrative games]
Selection of musical excerpts: Arturo Parra