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By Daron Letts
Northern News Services
Published Saturday, January 17, 2009

IQALUIT - The melodic joy of children's voices united in song is captured in a new album being released in Iqaluit later this month.

Songs From the Children of Nunavut is a 16-track disc of songs in Inuktitut, French and English sung by young students around the territory.

Retired teacher John Maurice, above, helped organize the new children's album, which will be launched with a musical party at the Francophone Centre at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22. - photo courtesy of John Maurice

"We're going to distribute copies of the CD to every daycare and every school in Nunavut. That's our intention," said former teacher John Maurice, co-ordinator of this musical project. "Hopefully the CD will make it out into the schools and daycare centres and radio stations all across the Arctic and beyond Nunavut."

Maurice retired from teaching after 31 years and 28 days in the classroom. He taught in Apex, Iglulik and Iqaluit throughout his career. For almost two decades he recorded some of the school choirs he worked with. He used the old master tapes for the children's album along with contemporary recordings from current students.

"It's sort of like a retirement project," Maurice said.

Maurice describes the playlist as a collage of children's music groups from the past 15 years.

"There are some kids in there that are probably in their 20s now and there's a couple of kids who are still seven or eight," he said.

Instrumentation by musicians Dave Boileau, Jimmy Inch. Nancy Watts, Andrew Molloy, Michael Doyle and Maurice is also layered behind some of the children's songs, which range from traditional French Canadian tunes to country and old time family sing-a-longs.

Throat singers Alexia Galloway-Alainga and Angela Furjes, both in Grade 6, are featured prominently on the album.

"They're real professionals," Maurice said. "They perform all kinds of public functions."

The CD was sponsored by a grant from the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and coordinated by the Illititaa Project, an initiative of the Francophone Association of Nunavut to commemorate the multicultural connection between Inuit and Quebecois, and with assistance from Nakasuk School Children's Choir and local singers and musicians.

The studio work was completed at the Francophone Centre and in the Kisarvik Music Studio. The final cut was produced by Leopard Frog Studios in Kingston, Ont.

"It took about six months to get it together and get it all done," he said. "I've had something to do with music all my life but to have something in your hands that's the result of your own energy is pretty cool. I'm very proud of it and I think the kids that are on it and the parents of the kids who are on it are proud of it, too. I heard some people have already put it on their IPods."

The CD launch, complete with live performances in three languages, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, in the Francophone Centre. Copies of the disc will be available for purchase.