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The Arctic

Andy Kershaw and Lucy Duran explore the music of Arctic communities, visiting Greenland, Norway, Canada and Siberia.

For this major series to accompany ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One's 'Human Planet', Andy Kershaw and Lucy Duran go in search of music from some of the world's remotest locations.. This week: the Arctic.

Greenland: Lucy greets the New Year with music, and hears the mighty voice of Greenland's greatest singer, Rasmus Lyberth.

Norway: Andy goes reindeer-herding under the midnight sun with Human Planet's May-Torril, who also happens to be an accomplished singer in the Sami tradition of yoiking.

Canada: Inuit singer Tanya Tagaq introduces us to her village in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, and sings the intensely soulful music of the western Inuit.

Siberia: Andy meets musicians from Yakutsk, the coldest city on earth, where long winter nights are whiled away with the help of a Jew's harp.

Producers Roger Short and James Parkin.

Available now

1 hour

Last on

Sat 29 Jan 2011 15:00

Music and featured items

  • Into

    Duration: 02:23

  • Ayarkhaan

    Breath of North

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Recording made on-location by Sound Engineer Marvin Ware.
  • Greenland

    Duration: 19:10

  • Rasmus Lyberth

    I see a light in your eyes

    Composer: Lyberth Performers: Jane Clark (violin); Christian Sogard (accordion)

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording made on-location at Det Gronlandske Hus, Copenhagen, Denmark by Sound Engineer James Birtwistle on 11th January 2010.
  • Rasmus Lyberth

    Inuuneq nutaaq (The New Life)

    Composer: Rasmus Lyberth Performers: Jane Clark (violin); Sogard (accordion)

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording made on-location at Det Gronlandske Hus, Copenhagen, Denmark by Sound Engineer James Birtwistle on 11th January 2010.
  • Erinarsoqatigiissuit

    Seqineq nuilereersoq

    Composer: Anthon Tellesen Performers: Conducted by Berteh Sandgreen

    • Erinarsoqatigiissuit 3.
    • ULOCD-160.
  • The townsfolk of Ilulissat, Greenland

    Unknown hymn

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording made on-location in Ilulissat, Greenland, on 13th January 2010 by Sound Engineer James Birtwistle..
  • Leif Immanuelsen

    Drum Dance Song

    Composer: Trad

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording made on-location in Ilulissat, Greenland, on 13th January 2010 by Sound Engineer James Birtwistle.
  • Leif Immanuelsen

    Polka: Tamatigooq

    Composer: Immanuelsen

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording made on-location in Ilulissat, Greenland, on 13th January 2010 by Sound Engineer James Birtwistle.
  • Leif Immanuelsen

    Drum Dance Song

    Composer: Trad

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording made on-location in Ilulissat, Greenland, on 13th January 2010 by Sound Engineer James Birtwistle.
  • Norway

    Duration: 15:09

  • Johan Sara

    First improvised joik at river

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording on-location in Maze, Norway, on 5th July 2010 by Sound Engineer Marvin Ware.
  • Johan Sara

    Second improvised joik at river

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording on-location in Maze, Norway, on 5th July 2010 by Sound Engineer Marvin Ware.
  • Johan Sara

    Second improvised joik in hills near Maze

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording on-location in Maze, Norway, on 5th July 2010 by Sound Engineer Marvin Ware.
  • May Torill

    Yoik for calling Reindeer

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording on-location in Maze, Norway, on 5th July 2010 by Sound Engineer Marvin Ware.
  • May Torill

    Improvised joik in hills near Maze

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording on-location in Maze, Norway, on 5th July 2010 by Sound Engineer Marvin Ware.
  • Canada

    Duration: 12:01

  • Tanya Tagaq

    Improvisation

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording.
  • Tanya Tagaq & Donna Lyall

    Geese

    Artist: Donna Lyall

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording.
  • Tanya Tagaq & Donna Lyall

    Love Song

    Artist: Donna Lyall

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording.
  • Tanya Tagaq & Donna Lyall

    Song of the Puppy

    Artist: Song of the Puppy

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording.
  • Tanya Tagaq

    Improvisation

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recording.
  • Michael Red

    The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is grateful to Michael Red for assistance with natural sound recordings in Cambrid

  • Siberia

    Duration: 10:08

  • Ayarkhaan

    My Horse

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Recording made on-location by Sound Engineer Marvin Ware.
  • Ayarkhaan

    Dedication to the Blacksmith's Patron Kudai Bakhsy

    • ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Recording made on-location by Sound Engineer Marvin Ware.

Broadcasts

  • Thu 27 Jan 2011 21:00
  • Sat 29 Jan 2011 15:00