You are here The region known as Nunavut (which means “our land”
in Inuit) is the newest and largest of the Canadian territories
and has been home to the indigenous Inuit population for more
than 4,000 years. Inuit throat singing is not singing per se,
but more closely associated with vocal games or breathing games.
Two women usually face each other – one leads, while the other
responds – the leader produces a short rhythmic motif that is
repeated with a short silent gap in between, while the other
rhythmically fills in the gaps. Each singer uses the other's
mouth cavity as a resonator. Sounds are either voiced or
unvoiced through inhalation or exhalation. Thus, singers develop
a breathing technique, somewhat comparable to circular
breathing. Words and meaningless syllables are used in the songs
– the words can simply be names of ancestors and the syllables
often represent sounds of nature or cries of animals and birds.
The game is such that both singers try to show their vocal
abilities in competition, by ex