iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Elijah Gunydjurruwuy is a somewhat shy but considerate and respectful teenager, a good kid in other words.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21MgIcLN8Ow[/youtube]
You can read more about Elijah by following the Link above which will bring you to the actual YouTube site. There are several other videos of Elijah playing yidaki, so make sure to watch them all and read the associated commentaries.

Enjoy!

Guan

I hear a lot of stylistic similarities to Wuduwal, don't you? There's something about the swing that points back to the late master.

Hi there

Ouf !!

GGW

Hi Jason,

By wuyimbal, you mean the sort of instrument used by the Djinang- and Djinba-speaking people of the Arafura Swamp region? I'm not sure if there is an influence there, but you never know. Elijah is just too fast, wooooooow! I think every kid in eastern Arnhem Land must take some inspiration from the late Mr Mununggurr, even if they claim to be self-taught. I got a call just tonight from Makuma Yunupingu who has been a yidaki player for Yothu Yindi band and he was speaking about Wuduwal and the influence he had on others like Gapanbulu, Nicky, Dha:pan et. al.

Dha:pan is a player to watch out for. I don't think the mainstream didj scene knows of him yet, but geez he is good!

It'll be interesting to see Elijah develop as he matures as a person and musician. He's still growing and will only get stronger and more powerful in his playing as the years go by.

Guan

Oops I mistyped- I meant Wuduwal The influence and inspiration is most certainly there- I hear it in the phrasing and long strings of 'dhirrls' .

That makes more sense, yeah. If I was a Yolngu kid I too would be studying the late Master.

Guan

I think so much of the influence is passive.

Got a call today from Lake Evella from Elijah who wants to come to school here and needs help with making arrangements and doing paperwork. Should be exciting!

That is exciting- definitely looking to hearing more from Elijah in the coming months!

Howdy fella's,

This is pure rock and roll...........................Mmmmmmm I played his vid over and over again this afternoon. What a talent, this young Elijah. Guan you are a treasure. Each time you bring back astonishing vid's with new talented players and style's from your field trips. And for some reason you seem to communicate well with each of them because they all play with no holding back in front of a camera.
What I'm really enjoying is the fact that they all play there own tune even if they are influenced by the great Masters or play fixed patterns. They all have there own voice (sound), this is really intriguing.


..................and maybe , just maybe one day I can play a little bit of that rock and roll. That would be a dream come true..................but damm time is catching up fast , not 18 any more, to many smokes and six packs and far, far, far a way from the Promised land.

Here is Elijah again, 12 months later!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtyRk16VD90[/youtube]

He is with his 3 brothers, all equally as wild and crazy as he is, and just as good fun!

Guan

YEAAAH GREAT !

Back now, lots to catch up on and to report on. Laga didn't make it but I have Elijah here, will write more as time permits.

Guan

Look forward to it, Shame about laga tho but brilliant that you have Elijah there!!! Two of my favourite players