While visiting the great Pacific Northwest, Francis Firebrace told us this story about YIDAKI, "We the indigenous people of my country, Australia - the Europeans tell us - have been there for over sixty thousand years. But we know, we have been there since the beginning of time. We are the Oldest living culture on earth. And we have the world's oldest known musical instrument that we call the YIDAKI or what Europeans call the DIDJERIDU. This instrument is a branch from a tree in which white ants (or termites) eat their way up through the center towards the sunlight keeping the outer shell solid for protection. And when this branch eventually dies and falls to the ground, the aboriginal people cut the ends off and this then becomes the DIDJERIDU.

This story of the didjeridu comes from the dreaming of the people of the Northern Territory and they say that YIDAKI the warrior was coming home from a hunt with kangaroo over his shoulder when he saw a dead branch lying on the ground. He picked it up and there was daylight coming in the other end and noticed there were a lot of little insects (which you call termites) in there. And he blew through it to get rid of them and it made a sound something like this ....

And the warrior liked the sound that it made. He found that by breathing through his nose and out through his mouth in a circular fashion he could make rhythm and many other sounds. Something like this :

The warrior took his hollow branch back with him and played it for his people. And they were drawn to the sound and they painted up with coloured ochre and danced Corroboree to it's rhythm. And during his lifetime the warrior taught many other young men the circular breathing method and this simple instrument became very popular and part of their culture. And it was used in ceremony, dance and forms of healing.

When the warrior died, his spirit left his body and went into the hollow log that you call the DIDJERIDU. And if you listen in a quiet place somewhere by holding one end to your ear, you can still hear YIDAKI playing in this instrument. And the aboriginal people of the Northern Territory believe that because there is a man's spirit in there it is a man's instrument and women should not play the DIDJERIDU. This then, is the story of what aboriginal people call the YIDAKI and you know as the DIDJERIDU.

And if you listen now to this spiritual instrument, it will not only enter your ears, but it will open your heart and reach and lift your spirit. "

MAC classes

Winter term at the Multnomah Arts Center will see the introduction of a new class. Didjeridu Rhythms will explore rhythms from around the world including native Australian, American Jazz and Rock and Roll. The beginner's classes will start on January 10th and there will be another Didjeridu clinic on March 11th. Call the Art center for information on all their didjeridu offerings at 823 ARTS. For details on course contents contact Ed Drury at 246-9683.

Try this one...

Triple tonguing is a brass players technique to create beats in triplets. It is accomplished by pronouncing the phrase, "Tuck-it-ta". Start out slowly at first, mouthing each syllable as a distinct note. Gradually build up the speed while at the same time trying to be sure that each phrase comes out clearly.

Tradition

What is a "traditionally made" didjeridu? The following was told to Ed Drury by music researcher, Randy Raine-Reusch in a discussion of the didjeridu and the fragile ecology of the Australian Outback :

"Traditional didjs are made from trees that the didj player is called to from a dream or through a ceremony. They are then honoured with a special ritual to appease the spirit of the tree, and the termites that are presently calling it home. It is then cut and again through a ceremony made into a didj." - Randy Raine-Reusch.

Didjeri News is published by Australian Originals 28 SW 1st, Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 228 4484