iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Hi!

I'm a Newbe in this forum and i'm from Germy.
Guan Lim told me, that this forum is the right place for my question.

So here it is:
when is a mago a mago and when is a yidaki a yidaki?

I know the essential differents, but there must be something like a criterion.

Thanks for answering and sorry for my bad english.

Greetings from Northern Germany

Torsten

Hi Torsten,

Very good question and one I've been asked a few times before.

To me, a mago is a mago when the Aboriginal craftsman says it is a mago. That's the simple answer. And the same thing for yidaki too.

The acoustic characteristics of mago and yidaki are mostly distinct, but sometimes not too dissimilar. We should keep in mind, actually, that when we say mago, what we really mean are instruments made to be played in the overtone-absent style. And with yidaki, instruments that are made to be played with the overtone. Having said that, Yolngu don't always play the overtone on yidaki; for example, djatpangarri style. And mago instruments can also be played like yidaki, as demonstrated by M*lk*y Mununggurr on the Korea tour instrument that was also used by Darryl Digarrnga at the Darwin Festival a couple of years ago.

So no clear-cut answers there I'm afraid buddy. However, if you are competent on both mago and yidaki styles of play, it isn't difficult to know when you come across a good mago instrument or when you find a good yidaki instrument.

I'm sure others here can help with with their experience with mago and yidaki

Guan

I think you've hit the nail on the head Guan.

The name attached to any one instrument, be it mago or yidaki, isn't the be all and end all and, as you say, if the Aboriginal craftsman refers to it as mago or yidaki then that's what it is!

I think your statement regarding knowing when you've come across a good mago or yidaki sums it all up really.

Hi Guan,

yes, that is, what i tell in other forum: if the craftsman says,...

Too bad, that i could not play both styles. By the way: i only play the "didgeridoo"-style like we play here in Germany.

Take care and see you next time

Torsten

I voted for yidaki, I haven't tried ever mago. I asked from Tuomas who is member of this site and he said to me mago is for fast playing. Maybe I found good vibes about mago too someday.

Nothing to do with the playing speed !
Mago is for WAL style of playing (Western Arnhem Land)
and Yidaki for NEAL style (North-Eastern Arnhem Land).
That's all...
And as a matter of fact, I'd say that in general, Yidakis play "faster" than Magos due to their narrow first third.
...
And I'm sure you WILL find good vibes about mago !