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Nootka Indian Music of the Pacific North West Coast

Various Artists
Nootka Indian Music of the Pacific North West Coast The Nootka people, now referred to as Nuu-chah-nulth, live along the coast of British Columbia, Canada, on and around Vancouver Island. Their music shows a clear history of polyphonic tradition, which the liner notes claim to be the earliest instance in the region. Song leaders begin some vocal songs unaccompanied, but then are joined by followers and drum beats. On many tracks, the musicians offer introductions; the inclusion of the spoken word is significant because it gives both a more complete picture of the singer and a glimpse into the cultural significance and meaning of the songs. The fieldwork experience gathering songs in this region was very challenging due to the fact that each individual song was traditionally personally owned, and permission from the owner was needed in order to sing it. Dr. Ida Halpern (1910–1987), an Austrian-born Canadian musicologist who studied not only the Nootka but also several other coastal tribes of British Columbia, collected these tracks. Other recordings by Dr. Halpern include Kwakiutl: Indian Music of the Pacific Northwest, Haida: Indian Music of the Pacific Northwest, and Indian Music of the Pacific Northwest Coast.

Track Listing

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101
Canoe Paddle Song Peter Webster 01:50
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102
Entrance Song #1, or Quiquatla Dance Peter Webster 02:00
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103
Entrance Song #2, or Calling Song - Quiquatla Dance Peter Webster 09:07
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104
Medicine Man Song Peter Webster 03:57
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105
Whale Song Peter Webster 05:05
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106
Farewell Song Peter Webster 03:24
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201
Echo Song - Paddle Song George Clutesi 02:41
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202
Welcome Song George Clutesi 03:31
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203
Warrior Song George Clutesi 02:20
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204
Victory Song George Clutesi 03:00
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205
Farewell Song George Clutesi 01:50
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206
Wolf Song Mungo Martin 04:04
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207
Sisiutl Song Mungo Martin 02:20
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208
Robin Song Mungo Martin 02:29
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301
Grizzly Bear Song Fred Louis and Ella Thompson 02:07
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302
Wolf Dance Fred Louis and Ella Thompson 02:03
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303
Victory Song Fred Louis and Ella Thompson 01:42
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304
Hinikeets Song Fred Louis and Ella Thompson 03:40
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305
Himikitsem Fred Louis and Ella Thompson 01:40
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306
Ha Ma Mai Fred Louis and Ella Thompson 01:58
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307
Himikitsem (Headdress Song) Fred Louis and Ella Thompson 02:20
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308
Mountain Song - Tsho Va Da Fred Louis and Ella Thompson 02:43
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309
Invitation Song Fred Louis and Ella Thompson 02:34
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310
Tama Fred Louis 03:08
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401
Sea Serpent Headdress Song Frank Williams 02:39
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402
Hinikeets - Sea Serpent Song n/a 02:20
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403
Quiquatla Dance Frank Williams 02:52
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404
Hamatsa Song Frank Williams 01:54
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405
Song from the Hopachisat Tribe n/a 02:10
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406
Comparison of Two Versions of the Welcome Song: Sung at Port Alberni Festivites, 1951 George Clutesi 02:16
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407
Comparison of Two Versions of the Welcome Song: Sung by George Clutesi & His Port Alberni Group, 1967 George Clutesi 03:35
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408
Clan Song Joe Titian 03:45
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409
For Topahti / Potlatch Song Joe Titian 02:29