Nootka: Indian Music of the Pacific North West Coast

The Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) people live along the coast of British Columbia, Canada, on and around Vancouver Island. Their music shows a clear history of polyphonic tradition, which the liner notes claim to be the earliest instance in the region. Song leaders begin some vocal songs unaccompanied, but then are joined by followers and drum beats. On many tracks, the musicians offer introductions; the inclusion of the spoken word is significant because it gives both a more complete picture of the singer and a glimpse into the cultural significance and meaning of the songs. The fieldwork experience gathering songs in this region was very challenging due to the fact that each individual song was traditionally personally owned, and permission from the owner was needed in order to sing it. Dr. Ida Halpern (1910–1987), an Austrian-born Canadian musicologist who studied not only the Nuu-chah-nulth but also several other coastal tribes of British Columbia, collected these tracks. Other recordings by Dr. Halpern include Kwakiutl: Indian Music of the Pacific Northwest, Haida: Indian Music of the Pacific Northwest, and Indian Music of the Pacific Northwest Coast.

Track Listing

101	Canoe Paddle Song Peter Webster and group, Ahousaht	01:50
102	Entrance Song 1, or Quiquatla Dance Peter Webster and group, Ahousaht	02:00
103	Entrance Song 2, or Calling Song - Quiquatla Dance Peter Webster and group, Ahousaht	09:07
104	Medicine Man Song Peter Webster and group, Ahousaht	03:57
105	Whale Song Peter Webster and group, Ahousaht	05:05
106	Farewell Song 1 Peter Webster and group, Ahousaht	03:24
201	Echo Song (Paddle Song) George Clutesi and group, Port Alberni	02:41
202	Welcome Song George Clutesi and group, Port Alberni	03:31
203	Warrior Song George Clutesi and group, Port Alberni	02:20
204	Victory Song (1) George Clutesi and group, Port Alberni	03:00
205	Farewell Song 2 George Clutesi and group, Port Alberni	01:50
206	Wolf Song Mungo Martin	04:04
207	Sisiutl Song Mungo Martin	02:20
208	Robin Song Mungo Martin	02:29
301	Grizzly Bear Song Fred Louis and Ella Thompson	02:07
302	Wolf Dance Fred Louis and Ella Thompson	02:03
303	Victory Song (2) Fred Louis and Ella Thompson	01:42
304	Hinikeets Song Fred Louis and Ella Thompson	03:40
305	Himikitsem (1) Fred Louis and Ella Thompson	01:40
306	Ha Ma Mai Fred Louis and Ella Thompson	01:58
307	Himikitsem (2) Fred Louis and Ella Thompson	02:20
308	Tsho Va Da Fred Louis and Ella Thompson	02:43
309	Invitation Song Fred Louis and Ella Thompson	02:34
310	Tama Fred Louis	03:08
401	Sea Serpent Headdress Song Frank Williams	02:39
402	Hinikeets Fred Louis and Ella Thompson	02:20
403	Quiquatla Dance (Kwikwatla Dance) Frank Williams and women at Port Alberni Festival	02:52
404	Hamat'sa Song Frank Williams and women at Port Alberni Festival	01:54
405	Song from the Hopachisat Tribe Drum group from Hupačasath First Nation	02:10
406	Comparison of Two Versions of the Welcome Song: Sung at Port Alberni Festivities, 1951 George Clutesi and group, Port Alberni	02:16
407	Comparison of Two Versions of the Welcome Song: Sung by George Clutesi and His Port Alberni Group, 1967 George Clutesi and group, Port Alberni	03:35
408	Clan Song Joe Titian	03:45
409	For Topahti / Potlatch Song Joe Titian	02:29