The Didjeridu

In Northern Australia the Didjeridu is seen as a phallic symbol and therefore a male instrument. Women are prohibited from playing.

Stories of the Didjeridu vary from place to place among the different language-speaking groups in this large continent.

In the beginning, in the North of Australia, a giant captured two young girls to be his wives. One day they escaped and made their way back to their tribal people.

The tribal elders knew the giant would ccme looking for his brides so they dug a huge pit along the path leading to their home camp as a trap. They waited behind an anthill.

In his anger and haste, the giant came running and fell into the pit. The tribal hunters threw their spears, mortally wounding him. The giant curled into a ball in his death throes. As he curled into himself he began to blow on his penis, making an eerie droning sound. He rolled and roared, thrashing around in the pit, the deep drone of his penis thrummed through the earth and caused the birds to fly high into the heavens.

The men wanted to recapture such a sound of power, so they searched for and found a large hollow log with the centre eaten out by termites. By blowing on one end of this hollow log, they were able to create the sound made by the giant in his death throes.

And from that time, the didjeridu is a sacred instrument to men, for it holds the power of the giant.

In another story from the South-East of Australia, three men were camped in the bush on a cold night in the middle of winter. One of the men, watching the fire, picked up another log to feed the flame which was getting low. As he picked up the log he found it was hollow but thought no more about it until he turned to drop it into the fire and noticed the entire length was covered with termites.

He didn't know what to do for the termites were his totem ! He couldn't throw the branch into the fire, because it would kill the termites but the fire had to be kept burning on such a night.

He carefully removed all the termites from the outside of the log by scooping them into his hand and gently placing them inside the branch. Then he raised the branch to his lips and blew the termites into the air.

And the termites blown into the air became the stars and the first didjeridu was made.

The didjeridu is the world's oldest known musical instrument. Traditionally, it's made from a branch in which white ants eat their way up through the centre towards the sunlight. The outer shell of the branch remains solid and protects the ants. Eventually the branch dies and falls to the ground. After shaping the ends and marking it with personal designs, this becomes the didjeridu.

Many Aboriginal people believe that there is a man's spirit inside the didjeridu - so women may not play it.

And if you listen now to the didjeridu it will go into your ears, open your heart and lift your spirit.

About The Author

Susanna Duffy is a Civil Celebrant, grief counsellor, professional storyteller and a creator and guide of Rites of Passage. Her ceremonies are used in home offices, corporate boardrooms and civic functions. http://celebrant.yarralink.com

---

Improvisation and Musical Form

Do you ramble on endlessly with your improvisations? If so,... Read More

?Who Else Wants to Get Screwed When Signing a Recording or Songwriting Deal?!?!?

You've got your recording (or songwriting) contract in hand and... Read More

College Radio: The Most Important Radio Level for Musicians

For the self-promoting independent artist, the idea of taking on... Read More

Review: Coheed and Cambria - Second Stage Turbine Blade

Ever wonder what would happen if you mixed the progressive... Read More

How To Play Guitar Like a Pro!

Having taught the guitar for many years, I see the... Read More

Make Money with Your Music ? the Top 5 Ways

Songwriters dream of making their living by writing, and sometimes... Read More

Would Chopin Have Passed A Music Quiz?

Q. My children are very interested in playing music. Is... Read More

How to Download Music From The Internet

Most of you have probably heard of the RIAA's quest... Read More

Anglican Arrogance: Small-Minded Choirmembers

What is "Episcopal" music?We often hear people express concern about... Read More

The Various Countries - A Rant About Country Music

It is no secret that over the past couple decades... Read More

Bluegrass Music - Alive and Well in the Appalachians

One of the Appalachian Mountain region's greatest contributions to the... Read More

The Flower Garden and New Age Piano Music

If you've ever looked at a flower garden, not only... Read More

How To Change Your Guitar Strings

Changing your guitar strings might make you feel a litte... Read More

Music, the Spiritual Connection

All through the age's music and spirituality as served hand... Read More

Singing: The Tonic of Life

Most people these days would associate singing with the popular... Read More

Celtic Music: The Japanese Connection

My friend, guitarist Brian Hughes, toured with the Chieftain's in... Read More

CD Mastering using Har-Bal

Feel free to download the entire manual detailing the mastering... Read More

Composing for Dummies

When most people hear the word composer, they automatically think... Read More

Solid-Bodied Gretsch Corvette Guitar

The Solid-bodied Corvette (not to be confused with the Corvette... Read More

Shut Up And Sing

What is it with these performers and their politics? Do... Read More

Music & Citizenship: Can Playing a Musical Instrument Help Your Child Become a Better Citizen?

Disregard the popular image of rappers with their ghetto blasters,... Read More

Learning How To Improvise

Those of you who have been reading my articles for... Read More

How to Use the Entire Piano Keyboard

There are 88 keys on the piano keyboard. Most pianists... Read More

3 Secrets To Understanding What Makes Music Tick

It's no secret that virtually everyone loves music in some... Read More

Rickenbacker 4003 Electric Bass Guitar

The Rickenbacker 4003 electric bass guitar is one of the... Read More

Closet Monsters London Spicoluk

Way back in November I found myself at the Casby... Read More

Surf Waves With Jack Johnson

Lately I've been listening to some pretty cool music by... Read More

So You Wanna Learn How To Start a Record Label?

Well, you love music so much that you have decided... Read More

Guitar Facts: A Glossary of Terms

It is said that the forerunner of the guitar, the... Read More

How to Create a Multi-artistic Piece - Part II

In the last article, the creation of a theme, its... Read More

Review: The Bled - Pass the Flask

Released in 2003, Pass the Flask turned this little quintet... Read More

New Age Music - How Its Made

Different styles of music have different "sounds." We can all... Read More

The Art of Music

Music is the art of arranging sounds in periodic time... Read More