Back issues
This our sixth issue of the Didjeri News. In case you missed the first five,
here is a synopsis of what's been discussed already :
Vol 1 Issue 1 - The term 'didjeridu'.
Vol 1 Issue 2 - History of the instrument.
Vol 1 Issue 3 - Legends and Myths.
Vol 2 Issue 1 - Beeswax mouth pieces.
Vol 2 Issue 2 - Corroboree Rhythms.
Back issues of the Didjeri News are available by sending a self addressed
envelope to Ed Drury c/o Australian Originals, 28 SW First #103, Portland,
Oregon 97204.
What's in store...
Lou and Lynn Robinson returned from Australia with lots of new items for
the store. Of particular interest to didjeridu players will be the CD's from
Charlie McMahon. Charlie started his performing career with the band Midnight
Oil in 1978. Together with members of the Oil, Charlie formed the band
Gondwanaland which toured from 1981 to 1985. Charlie is also the inventor of
the 'didjeribone' or telescoping didjeridu and his didjeridu can be heard in
the film 'Mad Max - Beyond the Thunderdone' as well as many other movies.
His latest solo CD, 'tjilatjila' features a different approach to playing
the didjeridu which Charlie calls the "didjeri horn". By using the overtone
notes of a set of didjeridus, Charlie creates melodies. Next time your in the
shop look for tjilatjila along with two Gondwanaland CD's : Wide Skies and
Tera Incognita.
Also look for local artist Michael Sterlings CD, "Flying Snake Brains" at the
counter. This is fine solo didj music and if you've been looking for a
recording which uses the didjeridu as a solo instrument, this is a great one.
Didjeridu Concert
Ed Drury's music will be featured in a concert at the Multnomah Art Center on
May 10th at 7 pm. A new performing group, "Fire Shadows" will perform several
new compositions. There will be demonstrations of several different types of
didjeridus from gum wood to glass, PVC to Pine.
Tickets are available at the Art Center on SW Capital Highway. Call 823-2787
for more information.
Try this one...
You've probably noticed didjeridu players playing with the mouthpeice
positioned off to one side of their mouth rather than centered directly
beneath the nasal septum. Personally, I play different didjeridus differently
as well as alternate between the straight on position and to the side
position at different times. In fact, most players do not buzz all of the
surface of both buzzing lips all of the time anyway! To illustrated this to
students, I sometimes play two didjeridus at the same time. One postitioned
to the right and the other to the left. There are couple tricks to this
procedure which increase the chances of success. One is that you select two
didjeridus which are not too far apart in frequency. This exercise is
difficult enough without trying to hit one note on one side and another on
the other. Another tip, try to find two with relatively small mouth pieces!
The obstacle is breathing. By doing 'bounced' breaths, circular breathing
can be accomplished on two instruments. Bouncing the breath is a rhythmic
breathing pattern which employs the diaphragm to 'bounce' the air against
the buzzing lips. This shock wave is heard as a beat rather than an
interruption in the drone.
Now , if you've accomplished playing two didjs with small mouthpieces you
know you can buzz pretty much all of the surface of both lips. Now we need
to find a big mouthpiece. An inch and a half to two inches should be dandy.
Play it straight on and see if you can generate a very loud drone by really
buzzing both of your lips.
A related practice is to play a large number of different mouthpiece sizes.
A lot of players have multiple didjeridus in various pitches. But they often
adjust the mouthpieces all the same using beeswax. The past few years,
however I've let that practice go. It two time consuming maintaining all
the various instruments to suit my face. Also, I used to sit down and practice
with the same didjeridu for my entire session. That meant that one: I had a
favorite instrument which I played most of the time while I had instruments
that were for "travel" or "with guitar in D" or whatever and TWO I had
didjeridus which I practically never played. Now when I practice, I play a
variety of didjs with various pitches, playing characteristics and they led
me to different playing styles.
Didjeri News is published by Australian Originals 28 SW 1st, Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 228 4484