ALASKA FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

Founded in 1956, this organization has given Alaskans the opportunity each June to study, rehearse and perform music with great musicians from various parts of the United States.

The research of the traditional music and folk lore of the Alaskan Eskimos was made possible by a contribution from the Loussac Foundation to the Alaska Festival of Music. The authentic Eskimo music recorded here is from the collection of traditional songs of Alaskan Eskimos by Lorraine Koranda.

The Alaska Festival of Music and the Anchorage Community Chorus are affiliated with the Anchorage Community College.

TRADITIONAL SONGS OF THE ALASKAN ESKIMOS

Songs have been very important to the Eskimo. Through this medium every facet of Eskimo life was expressed.

The first two Eskimo songs recorded here are from the "Messenger Feast," a hunting festival, which usually took place in winter months. The headman (umealik) of the village extended and invitation to the headman of a neighboring village to attend a feast and gift exchange.

During the Messenger Feasts, the traditional Wolf Dances played an important part in the celebration. They were closely associated with superstitious beliefs.

Although Eskimo lore includes many tales of violence, murder, and revenge which are celebrated in song, the stories of warlike activities are apparently accompanied rarely by song. The "War Challenge Song." (side 2, #2) is most unusual in that it recalls the heroism of an ancient chief, Ahahnok, as he challenged the Siberian Eskimos, who threatened an attack on his isolated King Island village. The English translation here recorded is spoken by Mr. Franklin Butte. It is the only war song that MRs. Koranda has heard in her extensive studies of the music of the Alaskan Eskimos.