Story
The didgeridoo is closely woven into the mythology of the Australian aborigines, symbolizing the image of the rainbow snake Yurlungur. Playing it accompanies the rituals of the corroboree and promotes entry into a trance. The uniqueness of the didgeridoo as a musical instrument is that it usually sounds on one note (the so-called "drone", or buzz). At the same time, the instrument has a very large range of timbre. Only a human voice, a jew's harp, and partly an organ can compare with it.
Since the end of the 20th century, Western musicians have been experimenting with didgeridoo (for example, Sophie Lacaze, Jamiroquai).
Didgeridoo has been widely used in electronic and ambient music. Steve Roach was an early adopter of the ambient didgeridoo and learned to play it during his many trips to Australia in the 1980s. In 1992, Aphex Twin used the sound of the didgeridoo in the dance composition "Didgeridoo", which became a hit on the British dance floors.
Name and etymology
"Yiḏaki" (sometimes pronounced "yirdaki") is one of the most used names, although in the strict sense, the word is used for a specific type of instrument made and used by the Yolngu people. Yolngu people) living in Arnhem Land. However, after the death of a man from the Mangalili clan in early 2011, whose name sounded similar to "yiḏaki", the Yolngu people began to use the synonym "mandapul" for the instrument out of respect for the deceased [ ] .
There are many other names for the didgeridoo. The most famous are described below:
| People | terrain | Name |
|---|---|---|
| enintilaqua | Groote Island | ngarrriralkpwina |
| Yolngu | Arnhem Land | Mandapul (Yidaki) |
| Gappapugi | Arnhem Land | Yiraka |
| Jinan | Arnhem Land | Yirtakki |
| Iwaidya | Peninsula Coburg | artawirr |
| Jawoyn | Catherine | gunbarrk |
| Kakuchu | Cockatoo | garnbak |
| Ngarluma | Reuborn | Kurmur |
| Nailail | kimberley | ngaribi |
| warray | Adelaide | bamboo |
| Mayalai | Alligator Rivers | martba |
| Pintupi | Central Australia | paampu |
| Aranda | Alice Springs | Ilpirra |
Device
Classic didgeridoo
Traditionally, didgeridoos are made after termites have eaten away the soft core of the eucalyptus tree during a dry period, forming a cavity inside the trunk. Australian aborigines find such trunks, cut down, knock out dust from them and make a mouthpiece from beeswax. The instrument itself is often painted or covered with images of the tribe's totems. The length of the instruments varies from 1 to 2.5-3 m.
Modifications
Modern didgeridoos are very diverse. There are instruments both with a constant diameter of the pipe, and expanding from the mouthpiece to the bell, as well as spiral didgeridoo and didgeboxes.
A separate class are the so-called didgeribones - hybrids of didgeridoo and trombone. The didgeribone was invented by the popular Australian musician Charlie McMahon, known for his experiments in mixing the sound of the didgeridoo with modern music. The tool consists of two tubes, one of which is nested in the other according to the principle of a telescopic mechanism. This modification allows you to change the length and, as a result, the tone of the sound during the game. Didgeribons are made of plastic or aluminum and painted in the black, yellow and red colors traditional for the Australian Aborigines.
Less common modifications:
Game technique
Tool Features
Didgeridoo can be divided into three categories:
- for slow, meditative playing (tonality si, do, re);
- for fast, rhythmic playing (tonality of F and G);
- universal - for both slow and fast playing (key E).
Sound extraction
The extraction of sound when playing the didgeridoo occurs due to the vibration of the performer's lips, causing the air column to vibrate inside the channel. The cheeks, tongue, larynx and diaphragm are also involved in the process of sound production.
The didgeridoo sounds only on one note (fundamental tone or drone), but has an extremely rich spectrum of overtones (high-frequency overtones by which the human ear distinguishes timbre). The tone of an instrument is determined by its length and the configuration of the internal channel. Here is an example for a straight-line didgeridoo with a constant diameter. The longer and narrower the instrument, the lower the tone, and vice versa - the shorter and wider it is, the higher the tone. During the game, the main tone can be raised or lowered by 0.5-2 tones, squeezing the lips more or less, reducing or increasing the force of exhalation. The degree of tone variation depends both on the parameters of the instrument itself and on the skill of the performer.
Continuous breathing
When playing the didgeridoo, the technique of continuous (circular, cyclic) breathing is used: in order to achieve a continuous sound, the breath is taken simultaneously with the exhalation. The easiest way to achieve this is by squeezing the inflated cheeks at the moment of inhalation. The cheeks act as a "bag", accumulating air and maintaining the pressure necessary to extract sound. By blocking the flow of air from the lungs, the performer can continue the vibration of the lips for a short time, reducing the volume of this “bag”. Just at that moment, a quick, sharp breath is taken.
Game techniques
One of the main tricks of the game is the use of so-called "overflows". When trying to retrieve their first drone, newbies sometimes involuntarily make a high, loud sound, like a bugle or trumpet. This is due to overly tense lips. With the right technique, the overbeats are extracted quickly and briefly, placing accents and forming a rhythmic component.
In addition, language plays a very important role. During the game, the position of the tongue can be changed by highlighting the overtones, however, it is mainly used to perform various rhythms, for example: “ta-ka-ka, ta-ka-ka”, “tuaki-tuaki-tua”, “ta-ka- taka, ta-ka-ta-ka-taka”, etc. You can also diversify the sound of the didgeridoo through your voice. Experienced performers can imitate animal voices, nature sounds and speak entire phrases without interrupting the drone.
Notable artists and bands
Solo artists
Collectives
- Gondwanaland is an Australian band using didgeridoo, synthesizers and guitars. It was founded in 1981 by Charlie McMahon (didgeridoo, vocals) and Peter Carolan (synthesizer).
- Airtist is a musical project that combines didgeridoo, jew's harp and beatbox. Musicians do not use synthetic sounds and samples, creating dance music through acoustic instruments and voice.
- Hilight Tribe
- Inlakesh - the basis of the group, created in 1990, are two musicians - Tanya Gerard and Rob Thomas. Tanya learned the game while visiting Tibetan communities in Dharamsala.
- Ganga Giri
- didjworks
- eMDee
- 3ple-d is a Dutch band formed in Amsterdam in 1995 by two street musicians, Liz Beijerinck and Michiel Techler. In 2004, percussionist Terence Samson joined the group.
- Like a Storm is a New Zealand band formed in 2005.
Didgeridoo in Russia
Didgeridoo and medicine
Dr. Milo Pulan and his colleagues at the University of Zurich published a study in 2005 showing that playing the didgeridoo, by training the upper respiratory tract, helps stop snoring, relieves daytime sleepiness and prevents sleep apnea. In 2017, the authors were awarded the Ig Nobel Anti-Prize for this work.
see also
Notes
- Didgeridoos(English) . h2g2.com (English) Russian (December 7, 2001). Retrieved February 19, 2015.
- Natural pipe// Great Russian encyclopedia. Volume 32. - M., 2016. - S. 442.
Original, mysterious, harmonizing, overtone musical instrument of the natives of northern Australia.
Approximately 40 years ago, the natives gave their mysterious instrument to the Western world. Since then, didgeridoo conquers, surprises, inspires, harmonizes people living in the tense world of civilization.
Australian Aboriginal legends say:
"When there was nothing, not even time, Vanzhin's creative Essences dreamed
our world:
When the first Man was created, the Vanjina left the Earth, but in order to communicate with themselves, they left Didgerida to people. The sound of the didgeridoo creates a special space, a special corridor through which Vanjina can descend into the world of People, and People can ascend into the Spiritual world."
Didgeridoo not made by hands, it is created by nature itself. Australian termites eat tree trunks and branches from the inside. It remains only to find these "blanks" and the didgeridoo is almost ready. Not every aborigine succeeds in doing this, since to search you need to have a special state of consciousness ... Didgeridoo is also made from bamboo. Many instruments are decorated with traditional paintings, images of animal totems.
Here are two (of the many) sayings of Aboriginal elders:
"Didgeridoo - the magician has his own power, when the didgeridoo speaks to you - listen"
"The magical sound of the didgeridoo touches people's hearts and calls us to remember our common earthly and spiritual heritage"
In the book "Healing Sounds" Jonathan Goldman writes that in those times when there was nothing, not even time itself, the divine essences of the vanjina lived. They dreamed of this world (thus it was created) - the time of dreams ...
And when the world was created, the vanjina left the Earth and moved to the spiritual world. But as a gift to people, they left the didgeridoo. The hum of the didgeridoo creates a special space, a kind of window or corridor through which the Wanjina can visit the human world and vice versa.
When I first heard the sound of the didgeridoo, and, of course, was shocked, I realized that this is the miracle that I have always dreamed of. Thus began my new life already with the didgeridoo, which I never cease to rejoice at.
The Aborigines of Australia gave us the didgeridoo. They are very supportive of the spread of the didgeridoo. They believe that the didgeridoo will help bridge the gap between our worlds.
Aborigines believe that the world is a single, fragile organism in which all parts are connected in the subtlest way ...
The time of dreams is both an aboriginal myth about the creation of the world and a special altered state of consciousness that occurs in the player who plays and listens to the game. The time of dreams is also a sacred space – the time of myth here and now…
Our life is the time of dreams...
The didgeridoo is also the flute of the Rainbow Serpent Yurlunggur, the main divine essence of the creation myth. The didgeridoo has its own life-giving power.
One day, Yurlunggur swallowed the air essences of the Vavilak sisters and their two sons. Then she spat out their lifeless bodies onto the shore of the pond. But Didgeridoo's flute saw all this. She raised her power from the bottom of the pond and breathed life into the Vavilak sisters and their sons.
This is the vitalizing power of the Didgeridoo. And this saving action symbolizes the eternal uninterrupted breath of the creativity of life. And you can play the didgeridoo by mastering the technique of continuous (circulating) breathing.
More recently, scientists have completed a study on the incredible vitality of cats. They came to the conclusion that cats have a healing device - it's their ability to purr. These low frequency vibrations reproduced by the cat are very useful for her and for us.
When I heard this message, I was extremely delighted: it's just a didgeridoo inside a cat!
The didgeridoo hums, the cat purrs, and all these are low frequency vibrations. Against the background of the low frequency of the main sound, higher, but quieter frequencies are heard - these are overtones. The overtones are always higher by 2, 3, 4, etc. times the fundamental tone, they always form a harmonious series of sounds, a kind of single-tone chord and create a kind of didgeridoo (and cat) timbre.
At my concerts, which I call meditation concerts, I and the audience are actually the body of some kind of mystical cat. I liked this image so much that I decided to call the concerts “Mystical Cat”, a meditation concert for the didgeridoo and listeners.
At a concert at the East Tea Club in Moscow in October 2004, I talked about how Aboriginal shamans heal the sick by laying them on the ground and playing the didgeridoo over them. Some experimenters immediately lay down. They liked this experiment very much, and they recommended me to give an opportunity at concerts to those who wish to listen lying down ...
What we do in the cultural center "Another world".
Exercises.
The didgeridoo is played with a jet of air coming out through relaxed, vibrating lips. This jet brings the didgeridoo into resonance. And the magical, sacred singing of this mighty flute begins.
Cheeks, diaphragm, larynx, tongue, lungs are involved in playing the didgeridoo. Your whole body becomes an instrument. Training allows you to learn how to control all the muscles.
Aborigines say that usually the muscles of the cheeks are needed only so that food does not fall out of the mouth during meals. But if you train them...
In this section, I will give two introductory exercises, since I will conduct the “School of the game” section when students appear. 
Exercise 1.
What does the phrase "exhale through relaxed, vibrating lips" mean?
Probably everyone can say "Whoa" to an imaginary horse. At the same time, your lips will be relaxed, they will vibrate, and a stream of air will come out through them. It remains only to bring the didgeridoo to the lips and, without interrupting this “whoa”, send air into it. This should be done until the didgeridoo resonates with its vibration and makes a magical sound. This will be the main tone.
Experience shows that almost no one manages to get a strong, even, correct tone right away. But this should only console beginners. Only constant exercises, only the search for your “kiss”, which will wake up the sleeping beauty Didgeridoo…
The number of approaches will never be in vain, as your muscles will imperceptibly strengthen, and then they will gratefully help you when you play.
Exercise 2.
Fill your cheeks with air, inflate them. With these cheeks, breathe through your nose. You will find that it is absolutely easy to do.
Now imagine that the air accumulated in the cheeks is pushed out of the mouth only by your trained cheek muscles. In this case, you can quickly inhale through your nose. This is the principle of continuous breathing.
Three basic requirements.
1. The main tone should be strong and stable (achieved by training).
2. The muscles of the cheeks should easily squeeze out the air accumulated in the cheeks (achieved by training).
3. With any movement of the cheeks, tongue, lips, etc., the main tone of the didgeridoo should not be interrupted (achieved by training).
The didgeridoo can be played sitting, standing or walking.
… And enjoy the flow of the amazing music of nature itself.
I'm doing a kind of experiment by playing the didgeridoo. I observe myself, my new experiences, sensations and possibilities.
I can say for sure - there is much more energy and health.
I have already tried to combine, intertwine the sound of the didgeridoo with a female voice. Well done.
And there are no limits to the experiments of musicians with the didgeridoo and other instruments.
An overtone, wind, unusual musical instrument with the beautiful name Didgeridoo gives a wonderful state of joy of creativity.
Specifications, care tips, etc.
Didgeridoo - Didgeridoo is the European-American name for an overtone wind instrument.
Australian Aboriginal musical instrument. In northern Australia, where the didgeridoo originated, it is called Yedaki. The largest didgeridoo reaches a length of 2.5 meters.
It is intended for sacred ceremonies of the Dream Time holiday dedicated to
The myth and time of the creation of the world, it symbolizes the rainbow-snake Yurlunggur. Only dedicated men play and see it.
In different regions, sacred didgeridoos (in sacred ceremonies) were played more often by men, but women prepared ceremonies and played the didgeridoo too.
Didgeridoos are a variety of forms, because it depends on the shape of the branches and trunks.
The voice of the didgeridoo is never repeated, each has its own special timbre and beauty.
It is best to start learning on an instrument with a length of 1m or more. up to 1m. 30 cm
The inner diameter of the hole on the side of the mouthpiece should be approximately 3 cm.
The inner diameter of the end of the didgeridoo would be ideal at 10 cm, but 5-8 is enough.
The walls of the didgeridoo should not be too thick, as the resonance will be dampened and there is a risk of cracking.
The inner surface of the didgeridoo should be treated with linseed oil, but so that the oil does not show through and does not spoil the pattern, if any.
The mouthpiece is made from beeswax.
I make a mouthpiece like this: I buy wax plates in the Beekeeping store. I warm up the upper end of the didgeridoo a little with a hair dryer. Wax pads, approx.
I warm up 1-1.5 by 2-3 cm and put it on the didgeridoo so that a little wax captures the inner wall and a little the upper surface. I crush, compact and line the upper end of the didgeridoo with such plates, forming a mouthpiece.
It is good to start learning on the bamboo didgeridoo.
You can make a tube from a dried hogweed trunk, or from something suitable, even their cardboard.
Cracks, which, unfortunately, are almost inevitable, can be “sealed” with wax. You need to knead a piece of wax and rub it into the crack. Wax holds well, only it must always be pressed down and crushed if the vibrations are damped.
My first didgeridoo was made of bamboo, 1m 15cm long.
The second didgeridoo is very beautiful, it is more souvenir, but it also sounds beautiful. It has a picture of a kangaroo. The length of this didgeridoo is 1m 20cm.
And the biggest didgeridoo, my "concert" mighty eucalyptus tube 1m 40cm long. The main tone is D, a very beautiful timbre, a lot of overtones. Unpainted, pure warm eucalyptus color.
We don't have any stores that sell didgeridoos yet. But in ethnic stores, stores of spiritual literature, bamboo tubes from Indonesia, India and other countries are sometimes sold, which are suitable for a start.
If you want to read the continuation of this lesson, then you are here.There is enough material in Russian that will interest those who like to withdraw into themselves.
Didgeridoo
Man has always sought to know himself by carefully studying the history of his evolution. Until now, there are a lot of questions about the origin of Homo sapiens - Homo sapiens, and the main mystery on the way to this knowledge is the aborigines - the indigenous people of Australia. This is an ethnographic phenomenon - a separate group of tribes, which, in terms of their physiological and mental development, froze at the level of the Stone Age and, before the appearance of the colonists, did not know either the wheel or writing. Scientists are very closely studying the religion and culture of the Australian Aborigines. Of great interest are their legends about the creation of the world, religious rites, ritual dances, as well as a primitive but very interesting musical instrument - the didgeridoo, which is especially revered by the tribes, because its sounds accompany sacred ceremonies and various shamanistic practices. For the Australian Aborigines, the didgeridoo is a sacred instrument with life-giving power. This is the voice of Nature itself, which drives away evil spirits and, at the same time, a bridge connecting worlds and epochs.
Read the history of the didgeridoo and many interesting facts about this musical instrument on our page.
Sound
The didgeridoo sounds like nothing else. This is a real touch to the miracle, as the low rumbling tone of the instrument evokes mystical associations associated with shamans and the voices of spirits. It permeates a person, acts on him attractively and bewitchingly.
Aborigines are very closely connected with nature, its sounds: the splashing of water, the howling of the wind, the rustling of leaves on trees, the voices of birds and animals. The performer tries to convey the essence of these sounds with the greatest accuracy, in combination with throat intonations, through the trembling sound of his sacred instrument. The uniqueness of the didgeridoo also lies in the fact that on it, sounding only on one note, you can extract a wide range of overtones that decorate the sound. The pitch of the didgeridoo depends on the length and width of the instrument: a short and wide one has a higher voice, while a long and narrow one sounds much lower. Playing the didgeridoo is quite difficult. During the performance, well-trained muscles of the face, neck, tongue and diaphragm are involved. In addition, the musician must master the complex technique of continuous permanent breathing.
A photo:
Interesting Facts
- There are no two identical didgeridoos, since each tree has its own structure: the shape of branches and trunks. As a result, each instrument is unique in its voice and timbre.
- The instrument, in addition to the name didgeridoo, coined by Europeans, has 45 more different names that it received in different tribes of the indigenous population. Here are some of them - yedaki, bambu, bombo, kambu, pampu, garnbak, illipra, martba, jiragi, yiraki, idaki and others.
- Different peoples have instruments that are very similar to the didgeridoo, among them it is worth highlighting the trembita, popular among many nations, the alpine horn and the Tibetan dungchen.
- The rumble in the mouth of a didgeridoo performer can reach one hundred decibels, which is equivalent to the roar of a jackhammer.
- The largest didgeridoo festival called "Airvault" has been held in France for more than 10 years.
- In our country, the first didgeridoo festival was held in St. Petersburg on June 28, 2008. In Russia, it is also established to celebrate Didgeridoo Day and it falls on June 28th.
- The Beatles musicians decided to try playing the didgeridoo during their tour of the Australian continent. Such music-making left a very vivid impression on them.
- A man - an aboriginal, didgeridoo player, uses the sound of the instrument to attract the attention of a woman he likes.
- Scientists have proven that due to the training of the respiratory tract, playing the didgeridoo helps to stop snoring, and also contributes to the prevention of lung diseases.
- In the 19th century, at the beginning of colonization, in Australia, there were 600 Aboriginal tribes, each of which had its own territory, language and customs. By the beginning of the 20th century, the Aborigines were already recognized as an endangered people, since they made up no more than two percent of the total population of the Australian continent.
Design
Initially, the didgeridoo is an almost miraculous musical instrument, in the creation of which nature itself takes part. It is a hollow pipe with a diameter of 5 to 10 cm and a length of one to three meters, on one side of which there is a mouthpiece with a diameter of 3 cm. If earlier only eucalyptus and bamboo served as the material for the instrument, today birch is used for its manufacture , maple, alder, ash, elm, and cheaper plastic or vinyl. Didgeridoo weight varies from 1.5 to 2.5 kg.
Varieties
Today, the didgeridoo, which is attracting more and more attention, has quite a few varieties. Musicians, in order to increase the performance capabilities of their instrument, are constantly trying to modify it. Currently, swirling spiral didgeridoos have been modeled, as well as compact box-shaped didgeridoos. In addition, didgeridoo performers invented the following models of instruments, which also differ in shape and appearance, among them:
- Didgeridoo Keyed - equipped with a valve system;
- Didgeridoo Multidrone - the instrument has a special shape of the mouthpiece and a special channel structure;
- The didgeribone is a hybrid of a trombone and a didgeridoo. The design of the instrument allows the length of the instrument to change during performance, as it includes two tubes, one of which is inserted into the other;
- Didgeridoo Flute - the instrument has sound holes, which allows you to play complex melodies.
Application
The didgeridoo is an amazing instrument that is gaining more and more popularity. Despite its archaism, today it is on a par with the most modern musical instruments on the planet. Didgeridoo is very versatile and its scope is very diverse. Being the musical voice of Australia, the instrument sounds at various national holidays and festivals, in addition, it traditionally accompanies the sacred ceremonies of the Australian Aborigines. However, didgeridoo is currently successfully used not only on the Australian continent, but throughout the world. His sound adorns the compositions of a wide variety of modern musical styles, including: rock, jazz, blues, pop music, hip-hop, techno, funk, punk, rap, indie folk, folk rock, ambient and reggae. In addition to music, the instrument finds another original application: it is successfully used in medicine. Didgeridoo is not only able to cure a person from snoring, but is also a unique, exotic type of vibration massage that helps relieve stress, effectively immersing you in meditation. Relaxing the muscles, such a massage helps with spasms and pain in the joints, starts the internal processes of self-healing.
Performers
The didgeridoo is a musical instrument that most people were able to get acquainted with only at the end of the last century. However, he quickly became interested in performing musicians, who not only tried to master the outlandish instrument, but also experimented with it, using it in various modern musical styles. A significant contribution to the development of the instrument was made by the following performers, who became famous both for their skillful playing of the didgeridoo and significant transformations - modification of the instrument, among them: Zalem Delarbre (France), Graham Wiggins (England), Dubravko Lapine (Croatia), Charlie McMahon (Czech Republic) ), Ondrey Smeikal (Czech Republic), William Thoren (USA). Among Russian musicians, the most famous didgeridoo performers are Svetlana Maksimova, Arkady Shilkloper, Petr Nikulin, Alexei Zakharov, Vadim Subbotin, Alexander Konovalov.
Story
The didgeridoo is a very ancient musical instrument that has been known to Australian indigenous people for over forty thousand years. Throughout its centuries-old history, it has not changed at all and has remained to this day in its original form. The most interesting thing is that nature itself takes an active part in the manufacture of the instrument. In dry times, termites - white ants, eating away the core of eucalyptus trees, form a cavity in their trunks. Aborigines carefully seek out such trees, cut them down, clean them, adapt the wax mouthpiece and decorate with totem drawings of their tribe. In addition to eucalyptus, bamboo is also used to make didgeridoo, the internal partitions of which are removed by driving hot coal along the trunk. This plant, which grows in the northern territories of Australia, is inferior to eucalyptus as a tool material, it can crack from temperature changes, as well as from changes in humidity. In addition, bamboo didgeridoos, due to the layered structure of the wood, have a duller sound, less saturated with overtones.
The didgeridoo has a very important sacred meaning for the Australian indigenous people. It symbolizes the image of the Rainbow Serpent Yurlungur, which, according to the myths of the natives, played an important role in the creation of the world, and is also the patron of the sky, water, fertility and healers. Didgeridoo is an essential attribute of initiation ceremonies, as well as sacred rites through which the natives communicate with their deities. To the sound of the instrument, they sing and dance their sacred corroboree ritual dance, in which not only the participation of strangers, but simply watching them is considered unacceptable. The didgeridoo is played mainly by men who are taught it from a very young age. True, in some tribes women are also allowed to play the instrument, but not during religious ceremonies.
The first colonists, who began to settle Australia in the early 19th century, did not pay much attention to the primitive instrument of the indigenous people. Interest in the didgeridoo arose only in the last quarter of the 20th century, and starting from the 80s, the instrument began to spread rapidly around the world.
The didgeridoo is an instrument whose magical voice still disturbs the hearts of people and makes us remember the common earthly and spiritual beginning. This instrument, which sounds on just one note, is now more and more open to man and penetrates into his modern culture, it makes people unite, share experiences, play together and organize interesting festivals.
Video: listen to Didgeridoo
One of the most ancient musical instruments, according to the method of sound reproduction, belongs to the group of wooden aerophones - wind instruments. Due to its exotic appearance and unusual timbre, similar to the throat singing of the peoples of Altai and the murmur of water, it has become quite widespread in modern music.
History of the didgeridoo instrument
Didgeridoo is an Australian wind musical instrument (Didgeridoo) used in the practice of totem religious rites to enter a state of trance. This name was artificially assigned to it by Europeans and presumably means "black", or "local trumpeter". Different tribes of the indigenous inhabitants of the mainland call the instrument differently, for example: “yolngu”, “jinan”, “kakutyu”, “meyalai”, etc. The most common ethnic name is "yedaki".
Since the XX century. Western musicians began to actively use the didgeridoo in their work, but Aphex Twin, who created the British dance hit "Didgeridoo", played a special place in its distribution. At the same time, many Australian publications began to write about the instrument.
The device and manufacture of the didgeridoo
The Australian didgeridoo pipe is made of wood. To create an instrument, the natives use a eucalyptus trunk eaten away by termites, from which they shake out the dust and attach a mouthpiece prepared from beeswax. Then they are covered with patterns and tribal symbols. The length of the classic didgeridoo reaches 1-3 m, and modern European and American performers can see specimens up to 7 m long. The body can be flat, expanding towards the bell and spiral.
Currently, there are "budget" options made of plastic.
Tool varieties
Didgeribone - has some similarities with the trombone - consists of two tubes nested one inside the other. Thus, by pushing or pushing one of them, the performer can change the pitch directly during the game. Inventor - C. McMahon.
Keyed - has a valve system, invented by G. Wiggins.
Multidrone - distinguished by a long thin bell and mouthpiece, thanks to the oval shape of which the musician has the opportunity to play several sounds at the same time. Inventor W. Thoren.
Didjflute - equipped with flute-like holes. It can play quite complex melodies, but the timbre of the instrument is inexpressive.
How to play the didgeridoo: How to play
Like playing music on other wind instruments, playing the didgeridoo trumpet requires a lot of breathing. Therefore, it will not be easy for beginners in the “spiritual business” at first, it may even feel dizzy or get a little dark in the eyes. To avoid such "troubles", those who want to seriously learn how to play the instrument should master the technique of diaphragmatic breathing. Professional performers use a complex technique of cyclic (continuous) breathing, which consists in drawing "reserve" air into swollen cheeks - when the breath ends, the sound is extracted by supplying this air, and at this time a deep breath is taken through the nose.
The sound extraction here is similar to the technique used when playing brass instruments, the so-called "basing" - vibrating lips, as when pronouncing the sounds "fr" or "tpruu". This is quite difficult, so those who want to learn should have a lot of patience.
This instrument, if we are talking about the classic didgeridoo, recreates one tone, which is called the “drone”. During the game, the "trumpeter" can raise or lower the sound by clamping or relaxing his lips and regulating the air supply - "overblowing".
At the same time, when playing the yedaki, you can pronounce different syllables and individual sounds, which will make the sound more diverse and interesting.
It is also possible to perform a double staccato stroke - the rapid pronunciation of the syllables “ta-ka, ta-ka”.
Didgeridoo in the modern world
The instrument is played by many modern musicians, mostly electronic music performers. Beatbox music lovers choose the didgeridoo. With it, you can change and enhance the sound of your voice, creating richer sounds.
Physicians, representatives of the University of Zurich, also paid attention to this instrument, they claim that playing the didgeridoo is good for health: it trains the upper respiratory tract, strengthens the heart, nervous system and eliminates snoring.
Based on all of the above, we can say with confidence that the didgeridoo is one of the brightest and most unusual ethnic instruments, which is not without reason popular with exotic lovers.
Didgeridoo video game
Watch the video below to listen and enjoy the sound of the instrument.
The sound of this ancient instrument is difficult to describe in words. A low rumble, a roar, slightly reminiscent in timbre of the throat singing of Siberian shamans. He gained fame relatively recently, but has already won the hearts of many folk and ambient musicians.
The didgeridoo is an Australian Aboriginal folk wind instrument. Represents hollow tube length from 1 to 3 meters, on one side of which there is a mouthpiece with a diameter of 30 mm. Made from wood or bamboo trunks, you can often find cheap plastic or vinyl options.
History of the didgeridoo
The didgeridoo, or yidaki, is considered one of the most ancient instruments on earth. The Australians played it when mankind did not yet know any notes. Music was essential for the pagan ritual of Korabori.
Men painted their bodies with ocher and charcoal, put on feather jewelry, sang and danced. This is a sacred ceremony through which the natives communicated with their gods. Dancing was accompanied by drumming, singing and the low rumble of the didgeridoo.
These strange tools were made for the Australians by nature itself. In times of drought, termites have eaten away the core of the eucalyptus, creating a cavity inside the trunk. People cut down such trees, cleaned them of offal and made a mouthpiece from wax.
Yidaki became widespread at the end of the 20th century. Composer Steve Roach, traveling around Australia, became interested in an interesting sound. He learned to play from the natives, and then began to use the didgeridoo in his music. Others followed him.
The real fame of the instrument was brought by the Irish musician Richard David James, writing the song "Didgeridoo", which conquered British clubs in the early nineties.
How to play the didgeridoo
The process of the game itself is very non-standard. The sound is produced by vibrating the lips and then repeatedly amplified and distorted as it passes through the cavity of the yidaki.
First you need to learn how to extract at least some sound. Set the instrument aside for now and rehearse without it. You need to try to snort like a horse. Relax your lips and say "whoooo". Repeat several times and carefully observe how your lips, cheeks and tongue work. Remember these movements.
Now take the didgeridoo in your hands. Place the mouthpiece firmly against your mouth so that your lips are inside it. The muscles of the lips should be as relaxed as possible. Repeat the rehearsed “whoa.” Snort into the pipe, being careful not to break contact with the mouthpiece.
For the vast majority of people at this stage, nothing comes of it. Either the lips are too tense, or they do not fit snugly against the instrument, or the snort is too strong. As a result, there is either no sound at all, or it turns out to be too high, cutting the ear.
It usually takes 5-10 minutes of practice to hit your first note. You will immediately understand when the didgeridoo gives a voice. The instrument will vibrate perceptibly, and the room will be filled with an all-penetrating rumble that seems to come from your head. A little more - and you will learn how to receive this sound (it is called drone) straightaway.
Melodies and rhythm
When you learn to confidently "buzz", you can go far. After all, you can’t build music from one buzz. You cannot change the pitch of a sound, but you can change its timbre. To do this, you need to change the shape of the mouth. Try it while playing silently sing different vowels, for example "e-e-o-o-u-u-e-e". The sound will change noticeably.
The next technique is articulation. Sounds need to be isolated in order to get at least some kind of rhythmic pattern. Selection achieved due to the sudden release of air, as if you were pronouncing the consonant "t". Try to give your melody a rhythm: “tu-tu-tu-tu”.
All these movements are made with the tongue and cheeks. The position and action of the lips remain unchanged - they hum evenly, causing the instrument to vibrate. At first, you will run out of air very quickly. But over time, you will learn to hum economically and stretch one breath for several tens of seconds.
Professional musicians master the so-called technique circular breathing. It allows you to play continuously, even during inspiration. In short, the essence is as follows: at the end of the exhalation, you need to puff out your cheeks. Then the cheeks contract, releasing the remaining air and not letting the lips stop vibrating. At the same time, a powerful breath is taken through the nose. This technique is quite complex, and it takes more than one day of hard training to learn it.
Despite its primitiveness, the didgeridoo is an interesting and versatile instrument. Musicians combine it with ethnic drums, jew's harps, flutes and throat singing to create mesmerizing meditative compositions. If you are looking for a new non-standard sound in your music, you may be able to get it with the help of this ancient instrument.
