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
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEgXAu30yuY
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