Didgeridoo

In the previously millennium, before any modern instruments were invented, were the Aborigines using the didgeridoo as a way to play music. Back then, men mostly used it at ceremonial occasions, but now it’s widely used all over the world. And that’s also understandable, because it’s a pretty amazing instrument.

Construction and decoration:

The didgeridoos are usually made from special picked hardwoods, especially the eucalyptus species that are rooted to the region. Once the tree is found, it’s cut down and cleaned out, the bark is taken off, the ends trimmed, and the exterior is shaped nicely; this results in a finished wind instrument.

A modern didgeridoo is usually cylindrical or conical, and can measure anywhere from 1 to 3 m long. Most of them are around 1.2 m long. Generally, the longer the instrument, the lower its pitch or key. However, instruments that bendts play a higher pitch than the unflared instruments of the same length.

After the base instrument are created it may be painted or left undecorated, but that isn’t the essential part. Mostly the didgeridoos are beautifully painted and decorated with traditional or modern paints. Either the maker of the base instrument or a dedicated artist paint this.

Playing the didgeridoo and gender prohibition:

The didgeridoo is played by using a special breathing technique called circular breathing. This requires breathing in through the nose while constantly exhale air out of the mouth, where the lips constantly vibrating, and then it’s possible to create the drone sound into the didgeridoo. This is a really hard technique to learn, but a skilled player, who using this, can replenish the air in their lungs, and with practice can sustain a note for as long as desired. This means that there’s now recordings of modern didgeridoo players, who can play continuously for more than 45 minutes.

Traditionally, only men play didgeridoo and sing during ceremonial occasions, although both men and women may dance. Female didgeridoo players do exist, but their playing takes place in an informal context and is not approved by Aboriginal elders.

History and origin:

It was first used by the Aborigines in Northern Australia. No one know didgeridoos exact  age, but potentially it’s about 1000 to 1500 years old. This theory are based on paintings on cave walls, where the didgeridoo appear, in this period. But in other rock and cave paintings there’s signs that show, that the didgeridoo wasn’t used until less than 1000 years ago. What’s really true isn’t confirmed or proved yet.

Names and meaning:

The Didgeridoo has dozens of names in cultures and nation. Besides “didgeridoo” it’s mostly known as “didjeridu”. But some of the names also has none common at all with the original “didgeridoo”. Even though there are numerous names just in the Aboriginal culture, mostly of the Aborigines will just use “didgeridoo” in everyday conversation.

The name “didgeridoo” either means a sound imitative thing, or then it’s a corruption of the Irish language phrase dúidire dúth, that means a native long-necked person, who listen.

All in all the didgeridoo is a wind instrument, which the Aborigines of the Northern part of Australian made. It’s mostly sculptured in hardwood eucalyptus species, and usually nicely decorated. It’s very difficult to play, but if you’re good at it, it will sound amazing.