Tamara Takpannie and Kathy Kettler (Canada)

ARNACULUIT / BEAUTIFUL WOMEN

Masters of traditional Inuit throat singing, Inuit women Tamara and Kathy bring the sound of a far-away culture to Lithuania by imitating the arctic environment they live in. On 21 August, they will perform in the refectory of the Baž Museum of Indigenous Heritage - a great opportunity to visit the former 17th century monastery, usually only open for tours of the monastery."

The tradition of Inuit throat singing, known as katajjaq, has been all but lost due to the rapid colonisation of Canada and the forced displacement of the indigenous population. Today, many Inuit remember their grandmothers singing, but the younger generations are still few and far between. Tamara and Kathy, perhaps the most prominent figures in throat singing today, have been singing and working together since 2017 to share their cultural art with the world.

Tamara, who hails from Iqaluit, capital of Canada's northernmost region of Nunavut, learned throat singing from world-renowned artist Charlotte Qamaniq while studying in Ottawa. Tamara's partner Kathy from Kangiqsualujjuaq learned to sing from her sister Karin and has been performing in Canada and abroad for many years. She performs contemporary and traditional Inuit throat singing and drums.

The concert program, "Arnakulit", means "Beautiful Women" and explains the content of the program perfectly. It is customary among Arctic peoples that only women practised throat singing - there are reasons for this. Hunting and fishing have traditionally been done by men. Like humans, the fauna of the polar regions is rare and remote, and hunters often had to leave their families for weeks at a time to provide fresh food for their communities during the long, dark winters, following seals on the ice or polar bears with sledges, dogs and camping gear. Meanwhile, the women's task was to feed their children and themselves with what they had gathered during the short summer months, and to keep the fire in the igloo fireplace going. The women started singing while taking care of the household and visiting each other. But singing in the cold Arctic climate has its dangers. Breathing in air with an open mouth can result in a sore throat or pneumonia. Thus was born the art of competing in imitating the sounds of nature with their mouths agape. It is said that virtuosos of this art used to contact the spirits of their ancestors in this way and ask them for advice when needed.

About the Rectory

The most beautiful space at the St. The refectory, formerly the monastery's dining room, is the most beautiful feature of the ensemble of the former Bernardine monastery (17th century), which was founded and built by the Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the nobleman Leonas Sapiega (1557-1633). The construction of the church and the monastery, a harmonious and elegant example of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, was initiated and funded in the 17th century by the Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Leo Sapiega, who built the church as a mausoleum for his family. The church has impressive marble tombstones of the Sapiega family, and the bright vault of the refectory is decorated with the coat of arms of the Sapiega family.

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