iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Constant sluicing? Could this perhaps be a pandanus specimen?

Good stuff Martin! The spelling back then was a little off track... I can't recognise anything there but it seems the titles for these songs are actual song verses.



'Wylaggy' would be Wulaki. They have their homeland at Gattji outstation near Ramingining. Not many Wulaki people left though.



This is interesting because the song series and Billy are both Yirritja, but Paddy is Dhuwa. For a Dhuwa man to join in Yirritja song is surprising and not usually done, unless it is in a very informal setting and the atmosphere is charged with frivolity.



'Ridjarnngu' would be Ritharrngu. This makes sense as Mainoru was a cattle station where Aboriginal men from a wide geographic stretch came together. A bit like Bagot Aboriginal Settlement in Darwin where diverse groups could be found living next to each other.



This is interesting because the combination is unusual. 'Djawanj' or Jawoyn are from near Katherine, and the Ngalakan and Mara from near Roper River.

Hi Jason,

I had another think about this issue and I reckon it is worth bearing in mind the context and intention of field recordings. With the ALPC recording, I don't think the performances were ceremonial... can you check Martin? It is one thing for Aboriginal people to be performing a certain genre of ritual which has a function within the community, and another thing to sing for a research scholar who has a desire to record as much as possible whilst in the field.

With Darryl's statements about Marrnguny bunggul, it is a ritual that has a social function, namely for the initiation of young boys. Whereas Paddy's and Billy's rendition of Dhay'yi songs on the ALPC recording seems to me to be for entertainment purposes or staged purely for La Mont West, and thus not constrained by the usual roles, resposibilities and obligations that would be expected in a ceremonial context.

This might be what has confused us when it comes to understanding performance styles in Arnhem Land.

Guan

The notes are at home. I am pretty sure that this is correct having read through them all more than once. There are comments about a festive and relaxed atmosphere. Joking.
Need to check though.


Interesting observations Guan. Thanks for these insights mate.

Martin

Not necessarily pandanus and probably isn't because it is crooked suggesting a branch or trunk of a tree. Pandanus specimens I've seen are invariably straight.

As for sluicing, this is common practice regardless of material used. If an instrument has air leaks, it is usual to get the instrument primed prior to use by sluicing with water. Doing this causes the wood to swell and presumably for the air leaks to close up.

Good point, Guan- makes perfect sense.

Absolutely. Certainly the specific circumstances of the performance here recorded will determine the way in which we analyze and discuss them.

I'm inclined to think that Paddy's playing was, as you say, for entertainment purposes.