When I was about 10 years old, my family travelled to Northern Quebec where I became acquainted with Inuit culture. I was fascinated by how important music was in the North, despite vast plains of silent snow. This is why I am pleased to share my research with you about the qilaut, an instrument just made for this job.
The qilaut is a very important instrument in Inuit culture. In addition to being one of the oldest examples of indigenous musical instrumentation, it has remained faithful to its original construction and is still made of ordinary materials found in daily Inuit life. It is divided into two sections: the isik, or surface that is struck; and the pablu, or handle of the drum. The drum is played with a kututarq, a simply constructed mallet. The diameter of the qilaut averages about 50 centimeters.
Originally, native people intended the qilaut to be a religious instrument. It was used to summon animist gods during ritual services. These ceremonies helped protect hunters and fishers from the risks of their trade and families were able to ward off evil spells.
After the shamanist period, the qilaut changed roles and became the central in Read More
The qilaut is a very important instrument in Inuit culture. In addition to being one of the oldest examples of indigenous musical instrumentation, it has remained faithful to its original construction and is still made of ordinary materials found in daily Inuit life. It is divided into two sections: the isik, or surface that is struck; and the pablu, or handle of the drum. The drum is played with a kututarq, a simply constructed mallet. The diameter of the qilaut averages about 50 centimeters.
Originally, native people intended the qilaut to be a religious instrument. It was used to summon animist gods during ritual services. These ceremonies helped protect hunters and fishers from the risks of their trade and families were able to ward off evil spells.
After the shamanist period, the qilaut changed roles and became the central in Read More
When I was about 10 years old, my family travelled to Northern Quebec where I became acquainted with Inuit culture. I was fascinated by how important music was in the North, despite vast plains of silent snow. This is why I am pleased to share my research with you about the qilaut, an instrument just made for this job.
The qilaut is a very important instrument in Inuit culture. In addition to being one of the oldest examples of indigenous musical instrumentation, it has remained faithful to its original construction and is still made of ordinary materials found in daily Inuit life. It is divided into two sections: the isik, or surface that is struck; and the pablu, or handle of the drum. The drum is played with a kututarq, a simply constructed mallet. The diameter of the qilaut averages about 50 centimeters.
Originally, native people intended the qilaut to be a religious instrument. It was used to summon animist gods during ritual services. These ceremonies helped protect hunters and fishers from the risks of their trade and families were able to ward off evil spells.
After the shamanist period, the qilaut changed roles and became the central instrument of Inuit social life. It was used to play music for the drum dance. Once a year, Inuit families or clans would get together to take part in a friendly competition The music was judged to decide which was the happiest clan. The beat of the qilaut also accompanied a similar competition for Inuit dancing. These festivities helped to celebrate reunions and accept new arrivals in the village or the tribe.
The instrument’s special feature is its soft tone, due to the choice of non-resonating materials like caribou skin, with which it is made. However, during special ceremonies, the skin is dampened to give it a special sound. The qilaut is thus an instrument that anyone can use. In summary, music has a unifying force for the Inuit in Northern Canada and the qilaut is the best evidence for this. Because it is easy to play and is available to everyone, it has a universal character. Its role is very similar to the African darbuka or rain stick.
Here is a brief summary of the parts of the instrument. I sincerely hope that you will send me a description of the musical instrument typical of your country that you like the best!
Drum and drumstick. Drum with single head in caribou skin, stretched taut by a cord around a circular wooden frame. It is made of modern materials (in the past, seal tendon and driftwood were used). A wooden handle is fitted to the frame. This type of drum is used for drum dances (pisiq).
The qilaut is a very important instrument in Inuit culture. In addition to being one of the oldest examples of indigenous musical instrumentation, it has remained faithful to its original construction and is still made of ordinary materials found in daily Inuit life. It is divided into two sections: the isik, or surface that is struck; and the pablu, or handle of the drum. The drum is played with a kututarq, a simply constructed mallet. The diameter of the qilaut averages about 50 centimeters.
Originally, native people intended the qilaut to be a religious instrument. It was used to summon animist gods during ritual services. These ceremonies helped protect hunters and fishers from the risks of their trade and families were able to ward off evil spells.
After the shamanist period, the qilaut changed roles and became the central instrument of Inuit social life. It was used to play music for the drum dance. Once a year, Inuit families or clans would get together to take part in a friendly competition The music was judged to decide which was the happiest clan. The beat of the qilaut also accompanied a similar competition for Inuit dancing. These festivities helped to celebrate reunions and accept new arrivals in the village or the tribe.
The instrument’s special feature is its soft tone, due to the choice of non-resonating materials like caribou skin, with which it is made. However, during special ceremonies, the skin is dampened to give it a special sound. The qilaut is thus an instrument that anyone can use. In summary, music has a unifying force for the Inuit in Northern Canada and the qilaut is the best evidence for this. Because it is easy to play and is available to everyone, it has a universal character. Its role is very similar to the African darbuka or rain stick.
Here is a brief summary of the parts of the instrument. I sincerely hope that you will send me a description of the musical instrument typical of your country that you like the best!
Drum and drumstick. Drum with single head in caribou skin, stretched taut by a cord around a circular wooden frame. It is made of modern materials (in the past, seal tendon and driftwood were used). A wooden handle is fitted to the frame. This type of drum is used for drum dances (pisiq).
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
This drum, called a qilaut, comes from Eskimo Point, an Inuit settlement in the Canadian North.
Faculty of Music University of Montreal
World Music Research Laboratory Collection
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
There are two particular ways to play the qilaut; the drum cylinder may be struck in a perpendicular fashion with a straight downward movement of the drumstick. Alternatively, by waving the stick in a pendular fashion or a unidirectional upwards movement, a softer beat is obtained.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
World Music Research Laboratory Collection, Faculty of Music University of Montreal
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
This drum, called a qilaut, comes from Eskimo Point, an Inuit settlement in the Canadian North.
The materials used nowadays in the instrument´s manufacture are caribou skin for the instrument¹s single drumskin, and wood for its circular frame. In earlier times, the Inuit used a seal tendon and bits of flotsam to make the qilaut. The drumstick used to beat the instrument is called a katutarq, and is carved out of a single piece of wood.
Traditionally, the Inuit use the qilaut to accompany their chants in a special ceremony, the drum dance (pisiq). In former days, families and clans would gather once a year for this occasion, in the largest place they could find.
During the drum dance, the men step forward one by one in turn to sing and dance, as they play the qilaut. As each dancer begins to sing in the midst of the group, some other person joins in to sing with him. Very often it is a woman.
It is the dancer who decides on the best drumbeats to mark the rhythm.
There are two particular ways to play the qilaut; the drum cylinder may be struck in a perpendicular fashion with a straight downward movement of the dr Read More
The materials used nowadays in the instrument´s manufacture are caribou skin for the instrument¹s single drumskin, and wood for its circular frame. In earlier times, the Inuit used a seal tendon and bits of flotsam to make the qilaut. The drumstick used to beat the instrument is called a katutarq, and is carved out of a single piece of wood.
Traditionally, the Inuit use the qilaut to accompany their chants in a special ceremony, the drum dance (pisiq). In former days, families and clans would gather once a year for this occasion, in the largest place they could find.
During the drum dance, the men step forward one by one in turn to sing and dance, as they play the qilaut. As each dancer begins to sing in the midst of the group, some other person joins in to sing with him. Very often it is a woman.
It is the dancer who decides on the best drumbeats to mark the rhythm.
There are two particular ways to play the qilaut; the drum cylinder may be struck in a perpendicular fashion with a straight downward movement of the dr Read More
This drum, called a qilaut, comes from Eskimo Point, an Inuit settlement in the Canadian North.
The materials used nowadays in the instrument´s manufacture are caribou skin for the instrument¹s single drumskin, and wood for its circular frame. In earlier times, the Inuit used a seal tendon and bits of flotsam to make the qilaut. The drumstick used to beat the instrument is called a katutarq, and is carved out of a single piece of wood.
Traditionally, the Inuit use the qilaut to accompany their chants in a special ceremony, the drum dance (pisiq). In former days, families and clans would gather once a year for this occasion, in the largest place they could find.
During the drum dance, the men step forward one by one in turn to sing and dance, as they play the qilaut. As each dancer begins to sing in the midst of the group, some other person joins in to sing with him. Very often it is a woman.
It is the dancer who decides on the best drumbeats to mark the rhythm.
There are two particular ways to play the qilaut; the drum cylinder may be struck in a perpendicular fashion with a straight downward movement of the drumstick. Alternatively, by waving the stick in a pendular fashion or a unidirectional upwards movement, a softer beat is obtained.
The materials used nowadays in the instrument´s manufacture are caribou skin for the instrument¹s single drumskin, and wood for its circular frame. In earlier times, the Inuit used a seal tendon and bits of flotsam to make the qilaut. The drumstick used to beat the instrument is called a katutarq, and is carved out of a single piece of wood.
Traditionally, the Inuit use the qilaut to accompany their chants in a special ceremony, the drum dance (pisiq). In former days, families and clans would gather once a year for this occasion, in the largest place they could find.
During the drum dance, the men step forward one by one in turn to sing and dance, as they play the qilaut. As each dancer begins to sing in the midst of the group, some other person joins in to sing with him. Very often it is a woman.
It is the dancer who decides on the best drumbeats to mark the rhythm.
There are two particular ways to play the qilaut; the drum cylinder may be struck in a perpendicular fashion with a straight downward movement of the drumstick. Alternatively, by waving the stick in a pendular fashion or a unidirectional upwards movement, a softer beat is obtained.
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
Learning Objectives
The learner will:
-
Understand that music is an expression in all cultures
-
Understand that the relationship between personal feelings and music transcends borders and cultures
-
Develop respect for music from a variety of cultural contexts
-
Examine traditional music practices in selected Francophone countries
-
Demonstrate geographical awareness by identifying Francophone countries
-
Be aware of the musical contributions of various cultural groups in their own community
-
Understand that all world music can be organized within a standard classification system
