Music of the World for the General Music Classroom

Upper Elementary Deanna Keihle

Australia – The Didgeridoo

Wind instrument native to Northern Australia.Possibly the world’s oldest instrument.Known by at least 45 other names, including Yirtakki, Garnbak, and Ilpirra.

Making a DidgeridooIt is believed that originally the Didgeridoo was made from Bamboo. Today it is made from a tree that has been hollowed out by termites. Some of the trees used are Eucalyptus, Ironwood, Box Gum and Wattle. An Aborigine first selects a tree by tapping it to see if it is hollow.

The tree is then cut, traditionally with stone axes, but today chainsaws are used.The residue from the termites is removed by cleaning the inside of the wood with a stick or hot coals after soaking in water.The bark is then stripped using machetes.

The wood is sealed at both ends and held under water to check for cracks. If any are found they are filled with beeswax.The wood is cut to the length needed to create the desired pitch (1 – 3 meters) A ring of beeswax is placed at one end to create a mouthpiece.

The outside of the wood is then cleaned and polished and painted with traditional aborigine designs.The finished instrument is then ready to play.

Apparently there is no standard shape or size for a didgeridoo. The sound produced will be determined by the length, width, and shape of each instrument. The most common lengths range from 1 meter to 1.6 meters.

Playing the Didgeridoo

Traditionally only males were allowed to play the Didgeridoo; however today, anyone can play this instrument.The lips, tongue, voice and breathing combine to create rhythmic patterns. Aborigine players invoke rhythms, drones, and sounds in order to reach a trance-like state.

The sound of the Didgeridoo is produced by vibrating the lips.Circular breathing is used to create constant air pressure. Circular breathing is achieved by breathing in through the nose and pushing air back out through the mouth with the aid of the lungs and diaphragm, resulting in uninterrupted sound.

The Sounds of the Didgeridoo

The aborigine people believe the Didgeridoo to be the sound of Australia. In fact, they believe that if the earth had a voice, it would be the sound of the Didgeridoo.

The basic sound of the Didgeridoo is the drone. The drone is created by vibrating lips and blowing air through the Didgeridoo.Additional sounds are created by using vocal chords, the position of the tongue, and lips.By using circle breathing, a Didgeridoo player can sustain a drone for several hours.

The Culture of the DidgeridooThe aborigine people have played the Didgeridoo for thousands of years. It is more than an instrument to them. It is part of their culture.

“IT IS COMING FROM THE HEARTIT IS COMING FROM THE LANDIT IS A SOUL INSTRUMENTYOU FEEL IT. IT IS THE SOUND OF MOTHER EARTH”

The music of the Didgeridoo combines consciousness with the characteristics and rhythmic patterns of nature.

“Traditionally, an Aborigine would go into nature and listen intensely to animal sounds, not just voices but also the flapping of wings or the thump of feet on the ground. The Aborigine would also listen to the sounds of wind, thunder, trees creaking, and water running. The essences of all these sounds were played with as much accuracy as possible within the droning sound of the Didgeridoo. For the Aborigine, the observation of nature immediately requires a state of empathy, which leads to am imitative expression."

The Didgeridoo is often played with other instruments such as click sticks.It is often used as an accompaniment to song and dance.Music has always been an important part of Aboriginal life and customs. There are songs for every occasion; hunting songs, funeral songs, gossip songs, songs of ancestors, animals, landscapes, seasons, and myths.

Increasingly, Didjeridus are included in music groups, rock bands, orchestras and in a solo capacity as atmosphere creators for seminars and workshops. The haunting music of a solo Didjeridu touches people's hearts and calls to remembrance our spiritual and earthly heritage." - Alastair Black

The following is a performance that demonstrates the traditional art of playing the Didgeridoo. The performers also appear in traditional aborigine dress and makeup.

References1995 – 2006. Yidaki.com,Volckmann Studios Company2006. Stephen Kent web site. http://stephenkent.net/skDidje.html2006. Aboriginal Australia Art & Culture Centre. Alice Springs, Australia. http://www.aboriginalart.com.au/site_map.html2003. Video clip. Children of the sun. Didg Revolution. http://www.didgrevolution.com/av.html