Canadian Society for Traditional Music / La Société canadienne pour les traditions musicales

The Canadian Society for Traditional Music (CSTM; French: La Société canadienne pour les traditions musicales) is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to the study, promotion, and preservation of musical traditions from all communities and cultures. It serves as a national platform for ethnomusicologists, folklorists, performers, music enthusiasts, and the broader music community interested in traditional music.

History

The society was established in 1956, originally founded as the Canadian Folk Music Society by renowned ethnographer and folklorist Marius Barbeau. The creation of the society was initiated by Maud Karpeles and Marius Barbeau at a meeting held at the National Museum in Ottawa on September 20, 1956. Initially, the society operated as the Canadian branch of the International Folk Music Council. In 1957, it became an autonomous organization while maintaining affiliation with the International Folk Music Council for several years.

The society was incorporated in 1966, with Marius Barbeau serving as its first president from 1956 to 1963.

Due to concerns about the term "folk music" being commonly associated with a commercial music genre, the society changed its French name in 1988 to La Société canadienne pour les traditions musicales, and in 1989 adopted the English equivalent name "Canadian Society for Musical Traditions." This shift reflected a broadening of scope to embrace not only Anglo-Canadian and francophone rural traditions but also other ethnic musical expressions across Canada.

In 1990, the society merged with an organization representing Canadian ethnomusicologists. This merger led to another name change ratified at a national meeting in Calgary in October 1990. The society applied for affiliation with the International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM). In 1994, the English name was again updated to the current Canadian Society for Traditional Music.

Mission and Activities

The CSTM is committed to promoting and studying musical traditions of all communities and cultures, reflecting the interests of its diverse membership. The society’s activities include:

• Organizing annual conferences held in various regions across Canada, from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
• Publishing journals and magazines, including MUSICultures, a scholarly publication, and Canadian Folk Music, a general interest magazine.
• Managing archives related to traditional music in Canada, including journals, programs, recordings, books, and pamphlets.
• Facilitating dialogue between scholars, performers, and enthusiasts through its conferences and online platforms.
• Offering membership benefits such as access to the MUSICultures journal, a dedicated listserv, and discounts for underemployed individuals and institutions.

The society has played a significant role in preserving Canadian musical heritage, including First Nations, rural French and English cultures, and musical traditions from immigrant and global communities, helping to make traditional music accessible to broader audiences.

Organizational Status

The Canadian Society for Traditional Music is a registered Canadian charity under the business registration number 892941642RR0001. It operates in compliance with the regulations set by the Canada Revenue Agency.

Legacy

The society is credited with improving the archiving and accessibility of traditional musical collections in Canada. Its archives and collections have preserved invaluable cultural materials, including early field recordings and ethnographic research. Pioneering ethnomusicologists affiliated with the society, such as Marius Barbeau, contributed to innovations in recording and documenting the nuances of First Nations singing and other traditions.

See Also

• Ethnomusicology in Canada
• Traditional music of Canada
• International Council for Traditional Music

This article summarizes the Canadian Society for Traditional Music’s history, mission, and contributions to preserving and promoting traditional music in Canada and beyond.