iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Kev in the UK asked me about a supposed Wandjuk Marika yirdaki on the internet which I have assessed as definitely a non-Wandjuk Marika instrument.

Here are some pics of old Rirratjingu yirdaki from the 1960s-70s period. The bottom yirdaki could possible be a Wandjuk Marika... a closer comparison with known works (bark paintings in particular) of Wandjuk needs to be carried out before a positive attribution can be made.

Pics below...

Guan

Judging by the figurative style of the snake on the instrument Guan, I would say there is a very good chance that this was painted by Wandjuk.

Good one Kyle, thanks for that. That particular stick came with no information when I acquired it, but the top one was made and painted by Mawalan Marika with assistance by Andy Watjuku's father Mithinarri Gurruwiwi... the 2 of them sometimes worked together on paintings too.

The middle yidaki is one by Mathaman Marika collected by Jim Davidson in the 1960s.

Yes, you can tell that Mithinarri was involved in decorating the top one as the miny'tji is done in his signature style - hard to describe, but truly unique in the direction and quality of the linework and always black, red and white!

Beautiful yidaki! Thanks for presenting those.
You guys are awesome
Are these currently in the ididj collection?
I'd love to know more details like the signifigance of the art, (red white black?) mouthpiece size bore, pitch, etc.
cheers,
robert

A short article I wrote some years ago contains some comments about designs;

http://www.manikay.com/library/yolngu_cosmology.shtml

which may provide an intro for you. Colours/names of colours are considered to belong to moieties too, white and yellow are usually Yirritja and red and black are Dhuwa.

I am bid sad because one can not find those old dchool instruments quite easily nor cheap.

I am also sad because yolngu doesn't produce them anymore - those big bells have overcome the old ones. Or is it so that those instruments don't end up on a dealers hands because they don't sell that well.

I am the most happy with one older style used yidaki that I got from Guan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExIqqmIu_Mw

I find it so great to play and you get the same sounds from those early field recordings.

So where can I found these old school top quality instruments?

Tuomas

Tuomas,

Big bell yidaki are not new. They were being produced in the 60s and 70s as well. Check out Guan's post and the pic on this thread:
http://www.forum.ididj.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=61
Also, I'd say that many big-belled sticks made by top yolngu craftsmen are fantastic instruments.
Further, I think it's way off base to say that yolngu don't produce good yidaki anymore. I think if anything there are many more top quality yidaki being made today than there were in the 60s and 70s. It's simply a matter of scale. There are many more yidaki made today, and there are some really great yidaki craftsmen at work. I really think we should avoid romanticizing the past at the expense of the living tradition.

Best,
Phil

Oh, I did not meant that Yolngu produce not so good instruments now a days.

Some big bell instruments just don't share the same elements as the small bell instruments and vice versa. Both are great!

Maybe just forget the talk about the bell sizes - I just meant that it is hard to find those instruments that are capable to produce sound similar to some old field recordings.

Tuomas