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The didgeridoo, a long wooden flute, is perhaps the oldest musical
instrument on earth. It is usually found and played in the Arnhem
Land, in Northern Australia. This particular didgeridoo is made
of wood, probably from piped eucalyptus branches.
Each didgeridoo is created in a similar process. The limbs and trunks
of a tree are naturally hallowed out by termites, cut to an average
length of 1.3 meters, and cleaned out with a stick or hot coals.
The wood is stripped from the outside and painted. This particular "didge" is
painted black with red and white motifs. These designs are characteristic
of Aboriginal art. To smooth the end of the mouthpiece, beeswax is often used.
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In traditional
tribal groups, this instrument is only played by men. The
didgeridoo was, and is still sometimes, used as part of an
initiation to their tribe. One example of a tribe that uses
this custom is the Yoingu.
The
word "didgeridoo" is originally a Euro-Australian
word, probably not based on anything more profound than the
sounds made by the instrument. The didgeridoo traditionally
is called ayidaki, although spellings and names of this instrument
tend to change from region to region.
One of the unique aspects about a didgeridoo is the way that it's played. Both
lips are put together to produce a buzzing sound as a vocal sound is made in
the throat. Continuous sound is accomplished by circular breathing; that is,
by breathing in and out simultaneously through the mouth and the nose. |
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