Master Canadian musicians touring Baffin this month

IQALUIT — If you don’t know exactly what a bassoon is yet, or you’re not familiar with the sweet, lazy sounds of a clarinet, don’t fret.

You’ll have a chance to see and hear both these instruments close-up in mid-March, when two master Canadian musicians, James Campbell and George Zukerman, embark on an ambitious tour of the Baffin region.

When you see him, Zukerman will tell you how his bassoon is a “weird instrument,” and he’s also looking forward to sharing its history — and most of all its music — with Nunavummiut of all ages.

Starting off in Pangnirtung on March 12, Zukerman and clarinetist Campbell will touch down in Qikiqtarjuak, Clyde River, Pond Inlet, Nanisvik, Arctic Bay, Igloolik, Hall Beach and Cape Dorset. They’ll end the tour with a four-day stop in Iqaluit from March 16-20.

And, along the way, the musicians intend to play quality music for as many people as possible — for students and also for larger, community gatherings.

The music on the programmes will be varied, and will range from the theme of the television show The Simpsons to Mozart and to an original arrangement of music played to a bilingual reading of poetry in English and Inuktitut.

Zukerman, speaking from his home near Vancouver, said the performances will be anything but stiff, concert-like occasions. He and Campbell are planning musical “happenings,” which won’t require a dictionary or prior knowledge of Western classical music to appreciate.

“When we play in the evenings, if there are musicians in the community, we want them to join us, too,” Zukerman said.

On past tours, in places such as Chesterfield Inlet and Holman, accordionists and traditional drummers have jammed with the touring musicians.

Also on tour will be Montreal keyboardist André Savoie and Campbell’s son who plays the trumpet and guitar.

Zukerman, who’s already organized several tours to remote regions in Canada, said he wants to give back some of the inspiration and support he received as a young musician.

“Playing for kids is something very special,” Zukerman said. “It gives you a chance to create a new audience.”

Zukerman said the tour is fun, too. Afterwards he doesn’t even have to search for reviews to see how the audience responded: the feedback is instantaneous.

Both Zukerman and Campbell have distinguished careers as soloists and are recipients of the Order of Canada for their contributions as musicians.

Zukerman, who’s been called “The High Priest of the Basson,” is credited with taking the bassoon from backbenches of the symphony orchestras to centre stage.

Campbell is one of the most widely known solo clarinetists in the world, with many critically applauded recordings to his name.

The Canada Council and the Music Performance Trust Funds of the recording industries are supporting the musicians’ whirlwind tour in the Baffin region.

Every time a recording is sold as a cassette or CD, a small percentage goes into a trust fund to musician unions to develop future markets, by presenting concerts.