The Eskimo Songs of Northwestern Alaska

• Main Author: Thomas F. Johnston
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Baleine; la Baleine; Point Hope; Arctic; eskimo*; esquimaudes; esquimaux; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.584.9539; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic29-1-7.pdf

ABSTRACT. The findings are presented of ethnomusicologicd research in several Eskimo communities of northwestern Alaska where traditional music is still popular. In some of these communities, particularly at Point Hope, musical ceremonialism is considerable. There are three main classes of songs in use: game songs, songs-within-stories and dance songs. Song styles and dance styles differ from those of the Eskimo communities of southwestern Alaska, reflecting not only the ceremonialism formerly associated with whaling in the north, but also language differences. R&UM&. Les chants esquimaux du nord de l'Alaska. On expose les rh l t a t s de recherches ethnomusicologiques dans plusieurs communaut6s esquimaudes du nord-ouest de l'Alaska chez lesquelles la musique traditionnelle est encore populaire. Dans certaines collectivitb, en particulier a Point Hope., l'importance du c6r6monial musical est consid6rable. Trois type.s principaux de chants sont Wilis6s: chants qui accompagnent les jeux, chants inclus dans les contes, chants dan&. Les styles des chants et les styles des danses diffhrent de ceux des communauth esquimaudes de l'Alaska du sud-ouest, reflktant non seulement le c6rcmonial autrefois associ6 21 la pêche 21 la baleine dans le nord, mais encore les diffdrences de langage.