The Didgeridoo

Last time we took an adventure to American Samoa where we learned about the pate, a type of drum.This week we are moving west to Australia to take a look at one of their most cherished traditional instruments, the DIDGERIDOO! What exactly is this thing with such an awesome name you might ask? It is.. as a matter of fact a wind instrument that people believe has been in existence for over 1,500 years.

A little history about this instrument..It was originally found in Arnhem Land, Northern Australia (but it is unclear as to how old it actually is). The primary use of the didgeridoo has been through Aboriginal ceremonies where nature, the dead, and storytelling have been honored.

The making of the instrument might sound rather peculiar to some, but it is what makes the instrument look and sound the way it does. It is made from a termite-hollowed bamboo or eucalyptus limb. Oftentimes the task in finding the perfect hollowed out bamboo and other materials takes a significant amount of time, because it affects the quality of the sound and its durability. After finding the perfect match, the craftsman trims the edges and removes any unnecessary bark from the to-be instrument, unveiling a one of a kind masterpiece. 

But WAIT! The instrument then goes through a whole personalized decoration process that symbolizes an important part of a performer’s life. Through playing the instrument the performer is able to bring that importance to life for all to share. Incredible isn’t it?

As part of my research, what I found to be interesting was the fact that the didgeridoo was rarely played by women. It was rather encouraged that females did not play the instrument. Though this varied from tribe to tribe, it is astonishing to see the significance it had on rights.

Now, what exactly does the didgeridoo sound like? It produces a low-pitch, resonant sound with complex rhythmic patterns ! Some people say that “if the earth had a voice it would be the sound of the Didgeridoo.” It is common for performer’s of the instrument to emit sounds that are related to animals in Australia. How is it played exactly? Well…it is played by continuously vibrating the lips while using a technique called circular breathing where you breathe in through your nose and expel the air through your mouth. Basically..you need to practice.

Recently, however, people have been noticing that playing the didgeridoo helps solve many sleeping discomforts such as sleep apnoea and snoring. 

According to the British Medical Journal, “regular training of the upper airways by didgeridoo playing reduces daytime sleepiness and snoring in people with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and also improves the sleep quality of partners.” 

In short, if you have someone who’s decreasing your sleep time because of these reasons enroll them in a didgeridoo playing class !

That’s a wrap for this week’s excursion to Australia ! Next time, we’ll take our ship up north to Southeast Asia where we’ll explore more of their hidden musical treasures.

Here’s a video just in case you want to hear what it sounds like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEgXAu30yuY