iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

There's a riff that old man Blanasi played that's got me confounded. It sounds like 'di-ta-di-ta-mo'... very quick 'di-ta' doublet. Does anyone know how this is done? I did a short recording of myself to try to capture that sound... in the attached clip the riff is at about the 2 second mark.

Guan

Hey Guan,

This sounds very similar to the 're-entry' used after the pauses in some songs in that it is, as you've suggested, a quick doubling up of the elements that results in the little wobble due to the speed at which it's performed.

The second occurance at the 5 second mark is slightly different in that it's 'dita-ta-mo'.

I'll have a go at these later on and see how I get on.

Have you got a recording of the Old Fellow playing this so we can compare?

I attach a similar clip I recorded last year where you can hear the same 'dita-dita-mor' but a bit slower than in your clip and I couldn't resist attaching the digital drawing I did of The Bomb himself as well!

Kyle

Nice art and nice audio too Kyle!

In your recording, I'm hearing "dita-tata-mor". Is that what you mean? Beaut clip though, nice gruff acoustics.

I've attached 2 clips of the Old Fella from the "Didjeridu Master" CD.

The 1st clip is track 3, Waking Up Song, and the riff in question is between the 13 and 14 second mark.

The 2nd clip is track 16, Manngalinj, and the riff in question is around the 12 second mark.

The lightness of touch and the speed the Old Fella has me stumped...

Anyone want to give it a go?

Guan

Hey Guan,

Glad you like the picture and the clip! The bit I've played is more like what you mention although there are similarities to the structure of the section we're discussing and it was the only clip I've got to hand that has any resemblance to this.

With regard to the Old Man clips you posted and the relevant sections, I've broken these bits down as follows:

In the first clip he plays the standard 'ditamo' followed by the quick section:

'ditamo ta ditamo' then

'dita' 'ditamo' and on...


The second clip is begins with the standard 'ditamo' again, followed by:

'di dita mo' then

'dita' 'ditamo' and on...

This is his 'free jazz' style at work! He's adding little bits of the phrase in tight succession and does it with such carefree ease that's it's hard to breakdown without writing it down like this and listening to it at the same time. In both cases the quick middle sections (italicized above) are played with much less aspiration/impact than the standard vamp which also adds to their distinction.

I'll have a go at these and let you know the outcome!

Kyle

Hey Kyle,
I like your drawing/painting.

Nice work indeed. Is it your professional occupation or just a hobby?

m.

Thanks Mahoran,

I have a Fine Arts Degree and used to work in the Art Industry as the Director of an art gallery in London, but am now working in the property field for a firm of surveyors. I am doing more art these days however and am hoping to start doing some freelance illustration in the near future. I'm currently building up my portfolio to send to prospective illustration agencies!

My boy you got golden ears.......and a superb Mago. Very nice sound. Well I guess Kyle has pined down exactly what I'm thinking. By the way Kyle really lovely artist impression and terrific audio. You have your own tune......niceeeeee.



Indeed it is hard to breakdown. And belief me I've listened to Les Aborigens a zillion time's and even today I here new things..................? Yes FREE JAZZ.........music of the soul. And the soul is beyond time and space, so it cant be grasped or copied. There is only one without a second. And this is the beauty of music/sound it can take you to whole new level of consciousness. In the Buddhist tradition it is know that music/sound is the language of the soul and is coming from the fourth dimension...... Sorry got carried away.

But here's my 2 cents to the story.

As we all know the way we write down the riff's does not necessarily mean that it's played that way. A whole lot more is comming to it. But here's my way of breaking it down:

DID- TA-M0 DID- TA-M0 DID- TA-M0 DID-DID-TA-M0.... and on the DID-DID-TA-MO magic happens. Because as a listener he leafs you in the dark because you have not the slides' idea what is coming next. And even sometimes he prolongs it like DID-DID-DID-TA-MO with an extra accent on the last DID. The way I see it, please don't shoot me because it's not rocked science is that he can vary in tempi when ever he want's or is needed.

Further more, I do have a recording of Darryl speaking/singing this riff. If I'll find it I'll post it.

Here's a audio-clip on how I interpreted the "BOMB" with 'di-ta' doublet. This is a slowdown version! you have to pace it up to get that JAZZ

Okay, here are three clips where I've used a similar technique as to that in the clips you posted Guan, although perhaps not in such a relaxed manner as the master himself.

Kyle

Nice Peter! I like how you have spoken mouth sounds and then the actual mago playing. Good stuff!

Guan

Not bad Kyle, thanks for posting. Comes pretty close me thinks!

I'll try to find some other clips by the Old Fella from Beswick where he does the same rhythm, albeit faster and clearer. The reason I've been confounded is that I can't hear his tonguing or mouthing, I just don't know how he has produced that riff. In my and your recordings, you can hear the tonguing.

I'll keep looking... a lot of my CDs are scratched unfortunately, happens everytime Yolngu stay here...

Guan

I think this may well be the case as he had 50-60 years of practice and his tongue was so used to making the movements. Maybe in a few decades you and I will sound the same!

Yes, found it!

The rhythm "di-ta-di-ta-mo" or "dita-dita-mo" (I like this better) can be found repeatedly on track 17, Muk Muk (Owl), on the David Blanasi Tribute Album 1998-2001. By the way, those who don't have this, it is essential listening... 'the greatest hits' by old Blanasi. There's so much variety in style and rhythmic patterning in the 20 tracks of live recording it defies belief. Who said WAL style is repetitive and boring?!?!

It doesn't sound as though Blanasi is using his tongue for the 'dita-dita-mo' riff. What say you Kyle? Anyone else?

Anyway, I've attached the song in its entirety... enjoy! And please do comment if anyone can figure out how this riff is accomplished!

Guan

Here's another clip, a short one, with a nice 'diwowo-diwowo-diwowo...' repeating pattern. I'm not sure if this is the right notation in written form but anyway...

I've not heard any non-Bininj play this so wonder if any1 out there would like to try? I don't think it is that difficult, not as hard as the 'dita-dita-mo' pattern in my books.

Take a listen to the attachment and see how you go.

Guan

Did 10 km on an exercise bike today and my lungs are getting clearer by the day... cause for celebration!

Time to test out my breathing...

Here's my take on the 'dita-dita-mo' thing again. I can't get the Muk Muk track out of my brain. Not sure if I'm getting close but I'll keep practising... maybe when I'm 80 years old I might sound half decent. Puff puff puff

Guan

This one gets a lot of play by me! It's one of my favorite recordings, and has given me lots of things to work on. I'll try and get a few scratch recordings up trying some of the varying patterns that have been discussed here recently.

I tend to think that the old man's expertise in playing makes hearing the tongue and mouthing difficult!