Wind, brass, strings and vocal chords

SARA ARNATSIAQ

Nunavut throat singers perform with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

Two young Nunavut throat singers performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra last month, to an audience of 1,200.

It was the second time Inukshuk Aksalnik and Pauline Pemik took the stage at the Centennial Concert Hall. The first time was in May.

“As far as we know, [that was] the first time that throat singers have performed with our orchestra. And [that was] also a first time that throat singers have performed in a concerto with orchestra,” said Patrick Carrabre, a composer with the symphony orchestra.

Earlier this year, Carrabre was given a proposal by the orchestra to write a piece that incorporated throat singing. He then contacted the Manitoba government for a list of throat singers. Aksalnik and Pemik were among the names.

Pemik, originally of Arviat, now living in Rankin Inlet, met Carrabre in Winnipeg to talk about the project.

She and Aksalnik, originally of Rankin Inlet and now living in Edmonton, recorded their throat singing and sent it to Carrabre. Carrabre chose certain parts, which he recorded to CD and sent back to the duo.

Based on that CD, Aksalnik and Pemik practised their throat singing, sending Carrabre recordings as they improved. The collaboration continued through the mail for about six months.

One of the melodies was based on an ayaya song. “I just give them one note on the horn in the orchestra, and they used that to start their drones,” Carrabre said.

On the night of the performance, Aksalnik and Pemik gave a demonstration before the orchestra took the stage. They explained where throat singing comes from and the different elements, drones and techniques so that the audience would get an idea of what the were doing.

The result was overwhelmingly positive, Carrabre said, and he’s open to the idea of doing more shows that include throat singing or ayaya.

Aksalnik found the experience to be a bit overwhelming, but very positive overall. “The fact that [Carrabre] could create a 10-minute piece around our throat singing is totally amazing,” she said.

“It feels good to know that we’re exposing ourselves to the symphony and to the public, you know, the southern Canadians.”

After the show, the young women were repeatedly approached by people who wanted more information about throat singing. “They were very taken by us. We sort of felt like superstars, I guess,” Aksalnik said.

There was an Australian composer who absolutely loved the performance, and he expressed an interest in creating something like it.

“[The audience] just loved them. People were just crazy. They just thought it was the best thing they had ever heard,” Carrabre said.

As for plans for the future, Aksalnik said she hopes to incorporate throat singing and techno music. “I’ve heard a couple of songs with throat singing and techno or dance music in the background, it sounds pretty amazing.”

She said she doesn’t quite know how to go about producing music with ayaya, though, because they are not her own original songs.

She has performed in New Zealand for the Mauri people; in Hanover, Germany, for Expo 2000; and at home in Rankin Inlet.

She hopes her performance with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra will bring her opportunities to do more shows in the future.