Volume # 001 Issue 1

Welcome to the first issue of our newsletter for lovers of the didjeridu. Perhaps this is a good time to start with some discussion of the instrument's name. The word didjeridu was probably applied onomatopoetically by white settlers to describe the sound made by the instrument. The aboriginal names for the instrument varied according to the language or dialect regionally. There were once many languages spoken in Australia. Now only about 30 survive! (1) Recently, there has been a movement among some aboriginal groups to promote the name 'yidaki' for the didjeridu. This name is from north-eastern Arnhem Land and is from the Yolngu languages. It means 'emu's throat'(2). Simular words are found in other regions. Yiraga, for example, is another name for the instrument which simply translates to 'throat' (this comes from a peoples who live on Groote Eylandt where there are no emus). In northwest Arnhem Land, words like ubar and ulburu which refer to the same instrument have similar root meanings. These words all refer to the telling of a story to cast a spell or enchant. Further complicating the picture is that there are 'inside' or esoteric words for the instrument. In Ranjbarngu the word Djalupu seems to stem from mortuary ceremonies. The Yolngu word djalupi is used to refer to the instrument used to accompany such ceremonies (3). So settling on one politically correct name for the instrument is probably, well, incorrect. The spelling (didjeridu) was adopted in the first publication of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies in 1963. Another common spelling is , "didgeridoo" - and we've seen many permutations on those two major spellings. We will try to confine ourselves to two terms for the instrument in the future. For the sake of clarity, we will reserve the term yidaki for only those instruments which are made by the traditional peoples of Arnhemland and the term didjeridu for all others.

What's in Store....

Australian Originals was fortunate enough to obtain some rare cassette copies of "Arnhem Land Popular Classics" from Tan Cahill (aka - Prof. L.M. West). These copies were made from the last known archival vinyl recording of Dr. West's 1963 Wattle ethnographic series 12" disc. The recordings were made at the Beswick settlement in Southern Arnhem Land in 1961-62. All of the original album notes have been transcribed and are included with the cassette.

We now have a wide variety of Agave Didjeridus in stock. They range from B natural to E natural in pitch and all have excellent response and tonal quality.

When your in the store, check out the information on classes at the Multnomah Arts Center. Fall term registration has begun and there are two sessions of beginners classes plus a three hour workshop this term. In addition, there will be a didjeridu recital in December. Advance tickets are only $2.00 and children are admitted free. If you plan on attending, bring your didj! Everyone will get a chance to participate before the evening is over. Call the Arts Center at 823-2787 and reserve your spot early.

Art Quake '95

The didj players of Australian Originals will be featured performers during the closing ceremonies of Art Quake '95. The ceremony begins at 3:00 pm on Monday, September 4th at Pioneer Courthouse Square. It should be a wonderful event with hundreds of musicians representing a wide variety of musical styles and traditions.

Try this One

Here's a little exercise to improve your circular breathing and rhythm. Start out with the basic drone and begin cheek squeezing rapidly. Alternate breathing in through the nose during the cheek squeeze (as in normal circular breathing) and breathing out through the nose during the cheek squeeze. The rhythm is about 140 per minute (fast!). Try to keep this up for 3 minutes but don't hyperventilate. We're talking little sniffs in and out here! The idea is to generate almost all the lip buzzing from using the muscles in your face rather than blowing. Since most of the air is going in and out your nose on every cycle, almost all of the tone is being generated by your cheek movement! Practice this exercise over the course of a week and you should gain substantial improvement in power and clarity of tone. Have fun!

Didjeri News is published by Australian Originals 28 SW 1st, Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 228 4434