Called Upstairs

Called Upstairs, Volume 1, provides a profound examination of the musical traditions found in Labrador. This scholarly work by Tom Gordon explores how Moravian Inuit music evolved through centuries of dedicated Inuit stewardship. The text traces the history of musical practices introduced by Moravian missionaries in the late 1700s and details their subsequent transformation within the region. As a significant contribution to the study of music, this book highlights the complex relationship between colonial influence and indigenous cultural preservation.

The narrative serves as a chronicle of Inuit leadership and agency, focusing on how these communities mediated external influences to shape their own artistic identity. Called Upstairs, Volume 1, examines the processes of adaptation that allowed these unique melodies to endure. By analyzing the intersection of missionary history and local tradition, Gordon offers a detailed look at the resilience of Inuit musical heritage in the face of historical colonialism.