Saturday, July 17, 2010

Didgeridoos


The didgeridoo (also known as a didjeridu or didge) is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northernAustralia at least 1,500 years ago and is still in widespread usage today both in Australia and around the world.

It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe". Musicologists classify it as an aerophone. The instrument is traditionally made from Eucalyptus trees which have had their interiors hollowed out by termites or died of other causes.There are no reliable sources stating the didgeridoo's exact age.

Archaeological studies of rock art in Northern Australiasuggest that the Aboriginal people of the Kakadu region of the Northern Territory have been using the didgeridoo for at least 1,500 years, based on the dating of paintings on cave walls and shelters from this period. A clear rock painting in Ginga Wardelirrhmeng, on the northern edge of the Arnhem Land plateau, from the freshwater period shows a didgeridoo player and two songmen participating in an Ubarr Ceremony. 

Didgeridoos are a sacred mans instrument and indigenous women are not allowed to play it. Didgeridoos are created by termites hollowing out the branches or trunk of a tree. This didgeridoo is made from the bloodwood tree. One of the benefits of playing the didgeridoo is that if you play regularly you will sleep better and stop you from snoring. The paintings added to the didgeridoos tell the story of the aboriginal people.

If you curious what it sound like, Please click the link : Sound of didjeridoos

4 comments:

Luis Gomez said...

Thank you for all this info. Really great.

T. Becque said...

Cool photo! I really like the tones. I keep forgetting it's winter there and it always surprises me to see people wearing coats!

Gemma Wiseman said...

That photo is filled with character - almost waiting for a storyline! Beautiful! And loved your information on the didgeridoo!

Louis la Vache said...

This is the first photo «Louis» has seen of this instrument - and he had no idea of its fascinating history.

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