iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Here's a recording I've just made of 'old stye' yidaki inspired by Robert's recent inquiry about old style instruments. The instrument itself is old, circa. 1960s-70s, and from Milingimbi.

It is interesting to me what aficionados consider as old style. What exactly do we mean when we say 'old style'? Are the techniques used back then actually different to what we hear today in NEAL? Or is it more the case that instruments back then were different to those used in contemporary times? That is, long low-key instruments of yesteryears compared to shorter higher-key yidaki of today?

If I was to try to play 'old style' I find that only certain types of instruments respond in the right way. It isn't just a key issue.

Anyway, here's the recording. It is fuzzy because it was done straight on my computer using the in-built mic. Sorry! You get the idea anyway...

Hey Guan,

It sounds good! 'Old Style' to me is more influenced by the type of instrument used in the past and the nature of the voice of said instruments where one can really 'hear the tongue' if you know what I mean. The long, less tapered sticks that one sees in old photos have a wonderful ringing response to the correct tongue inflections and you can hear this in your clip where the slight pop is effected on the impact in the first part of the vamp.

Play the same rhythm on a more modern stick and the higher pitch (generally speaking) and resultant PV interference pattern will bring the voice up in terms of volume and timbre but will kill the 'tongue hearing' mentioned above a bit. At least that's what I think!

Nice clip. I'm off to London tonight but I'll dig out a nice 'old style' stick I've got and lay down my version of an old style rhythm upon my return.

Kyle

Hey Guan:

It sounds good indeed! I have a yidaki by Badikupa that I would definitely classify as 'old-school', not by age but by virtue of the acoustics.

The tone dirty and congested in the key of C with an overtone at F. I do believe I'll have to record this instrument tonight!

The lower backpressure really allows one to 'hear the tongue' during play, and I definitely have a place in my heart for these kind of instruments.

Ok, here's a quick pair of recordings to demonstrate my interpretation of 'old man style' on yidaki. The yidaki in this case is made and painted by Milminyina Dhamarrandji E/F. The overtone is soft, which I particularly like. The stick is rather similar to the older style instruments from yesteryears- gentle tapers with moderate sized bells.

Thanks for posting that clip Guan, and you to Jason...it's a big help in trying to get focused and bring together many different thoughts and pieces of yidaki playing I have been listening to lately.

Are there any good tracks on any of the old records that we might especially focus on as a good example of this type of style/instrument? I have a few ideas, but I'd like to hear some more suggestions.
I could even post the examples cited if they are in my collection.
robert

Hi Robert,

I really like the old Milingimbi field recordings... Mutpu and Dharringguwuy rule!

Guan

Yes !

Murtpu (as Mudpo) definitely - his playing on 'Land of the Morning Star' of course but also on Laades' recordings -his track, Spider - one of my favourites - and that instrument of his sounds fantastic.

P.

That's good to hear!
Actually Mudpo (Land of the Morning Star) is one of the examples I was thinking of in terms of "old style" also.
I have been listening to him recently and I will plan to make some samples available.
For those that want to use Real Audio, it is available now on Manikay.com

Did you know that 2 tracks of that LP (Barnumbirr-Morning Star and Devil Bird) are on the Voyager space craft Golden Record?
I'm working on a short write up of this because it is the 30 year anniversery. I will provide a link and download as soon as it is ready.

Peter, I'm not familiar with the recording you mentioned and I could find nothing on the internet.....can you point me in a direction to a source?
thanks,
robert

Hey Robert,

Looks like this is the album you're after:



The tracks are cross-referenced on 'Australia - Songs of the Aborigines and Music of Papua, New Guinea' (which I have). Although my liner notes say Wiryi is the yidaki player of interest as opposed to Mudpo.

You can locate it online with some ingenuity and persistance-- just takes some doing

I can make it available to you if you'd like.

Jason

Thanks Jason, but actually I do have that LP already....I was specifically interested in Peters mention of the "Laades recordings" with Mudpo and especially the instrument Peter mentions.
Those I am not familiar with........
robert

Do you have this one?



Both of these albums were collected/recorded by Wolfgang Laade. Just want to make sure that I'm not misunderstanding you

Jason, I may be getting confused.....
The pictures you are posting aren't showing up, I just copied "properties" and see that the first one you spoke of is not in my collection. The second LP 'Australia - Songs of the Aborigines and Music of Papua, New Guinea' is the one that I have. I don't think there is any mention of Mudpo on that one.....but I don't have it in my hands right now to be sure........more later, after I have the albums in my hand to review.....
thanks,
robert

G'day Robert,

there is a good chance that I'm wrong in thinking it is Murtpo on Laades' recording and I will happily stand corrected - hope I haven't sent you off on a wild goose chase - and if I did, sorry. I'm afraid my brain is just not up to this any longer. I'm out of touch with this scene now and it clearly shows. I was in two minds about subscribing as I didn't really feel I had anything to contribute these days to such a forum. I shoud have gone with my gut feeling - things have moved on and I haven't. I must apologise to the forum for lacking the ability to provide constructive and productive comments and for my every increasingly stagnating mind. Guan, you know how it is - you probably saw evidence of it when we met recently. So sorry everyone for the wasted bandwidth. All the best to you all.

No Peter, please stay with the group.....it was really no wild goose chase at all.....in fact it made me delve deeper into a recording (Laades) I have not been paying enough attention too, and look forward to spending some more time with......doesn't matter a wit whether it was Mudpo or not.....
All in all time really well spent
C'mon Peter, tell me your going to stick around here, ok?
peace and respect,
robert

Rats- looks like the image tags aren't working properly! For the benefit of others who might be following this thread:

Both of these recordings were done by Wolfgang Laade in the early 1960s, but quite difficult to locate hard copies of.



Peter, don't leave us- I enjoy chatting with you and you offer a perspective that many of us lack, having worked with Yolngu for so long. It's good to finally have a chance to talk with the legend after so many years reading your words!