Music of the Northwest Territories
Encyclopedia
The Northwest Territories
are a territory of Canada
.
Music festival
s held in the Northwest Territories include Folk on the Rocks, typically held in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in the middle of July and the Great Northern Arts Festival
, which is held annually in Inuvik, Northwest Territories
to celebrate the culture of the northern peoples of Canada. The South Slave Friendship Festival is also held later in the summer in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.
Over its 30 years, Folk on the Rocks has attracted many southern artists ranging from Stan Rogers to Sam Roberts, Buffy St. Marie to Gord Downie and many acts from around the world. Some of the more interesting aspects of the festival are the unique workshops that combine artists from the North with entertainers from the south or overseas. For instance, the Mongolian Tuva group Chirgilchin performed an impromptu set with some traditional Inuit throat-singers, which created some never before heard music.
Musicians from the Northwest Territories include Susan Aglukark
.
The Midway Lake Music Festival is held annually among the Teetl’it Gwich’in, one of the First Nations
of the Northwest Territories. At Midway Lake, Gwich'in musicians performer jig
s, waltz
es and square dance
s, which were imported by fur trade
rs in the 19th century.
The fiddle
is a common traditional instrument in the Northwest Territories.
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
are a territory of Canada
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
.
Music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
s held in the Northwest Territories include Folk on the Rocks, typically held in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in the middle of July and the Great Northern Arts Festival
Great Northern Arts Festival
The Great Northern Arts Festival is held each year in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Lasting approximately ten days, it is an annual event held each summer. It was established in 1989 by Sharlene Alexander and Sue Rose. While the festival's mandate is to serve Northern artists and craftspeople,...
, which is held annually in Inuvik, Northwest Territories
Inuvik, Northwest Territories
Inuvik is a town in the Northwest Territories of Canada and is the administrative centre for the Inuvik Region.The population as of the 2006 Census was 3,484, but the two previous census counts show wide fluctuations due to economic conditions: 2,894 in 2001 and 3,296 in 1996...
to celebrate the culture of the northern peoples of Canada. The South Slave Friendship Festival is also held later in the summer in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.
Over its 30 years, Folk on the Rocks has attracted many southern artists ranging from Stan Rogers to Sam Roberts, Buffy St. Marie to Gord Downie and many acts from around the world. Some of the more interesting aspects of the festival are the unique workshops that combine artists from the North with entertainers from the south or overseas. For instance, the Mongolian Tuva group Chirgilchin performed an impromptu set with some traditional Inuit throat-singers, which created some never before heard music.
Musicians from the Northwest Territories include Susan Aglukark
Susan Aglukark
Susan Aglukark, OC , is an Inuk musician whose blend of Inuit folk music traditions with country and pop songwriting has made her a major recording star in Canada. Her most successful single is "O Siem", which reached #1 on the Canadian country and adult contemporary charts in 1995...
.
The Midway Lake Music Festival is held annually among the Teetl’it Gwich’in, one of the First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
of the Northwest Territories. At Midway Lake, Gwich'in musicians performer jig
Jig
The Jig is a form of lively folk dance, as well as the accompanying dance tune, originating in England in the 16th century and today most associated with Irish dance music and Scottish country dance music...
s, waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
es and square dance
Square dance
Square dance is a folk dance with four couples arranged in a square, with one couple on each side, beginning with Couple 1 facing away from the music and going counter-clockwise until getting to Couple 4. Couples 1 and 3 are known as the head couples, while Couples 2 and 4 are the side couples...
s, which were imported by fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
rs in the 19th century.
The fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
is a common traditional instrument in the Northwest Territories.