The history of music in Canada stretches back centuries. Beginning with the Indigenous peoples of this land, people here have long been making music that reflects their lives and spiritual beliefs. Evolution of environmental, socio-cultural, and geographic factors influenced styles of music. The arrival of Europeans changed the landscape – from introducing new musical ideas to darker effects such as the banning of ceremonies and suppression of traditions. Despite outside influences, most Indigenous groups in Canada have retained nation-specific musical traditions, repertoires, and meanings that reflect their unique cultural traditions. Colonialism also gave rise to collaborative musical traditions, like Métis fiddling. The wider recognition of Indigenous music genres corresponded with increased awareness of Indigenous social issues by non-Indigenous people in the 1960s and 1970s. When Europeans arrived on the continent, they brought new musical traditions and instruments with them. Early colonial music included religious music, operas, and songs accompanied by instruments like violins, trumpets, and fiddles. Very few of these early colonial popular works survive today, but their influence lives on. Over the centuries, as settlers arrived from all over the world, Canada’s music scene would grow to accept and reflect global styles and influences. For example, in some colonial communities, such as rural Nova Scotia, Indigenous, Black, Acadian, Celtic, and Gaelic peoples intermingled, fusing performance styles to produce unique forms of folk and country music. Today, music in Canada is a conglomeration of styles, genres, themes, and cultures that reflects the diversity of the people here. Nevertheless, the ramifications of a long history of suppressing traditions of racialized and othered groups can still be felt today. Canada History Week 2022 Learning Tool SECTION 3 – MUSIC 9. Vintage Music Sheet (Marsia16/Dreamstime.com).
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