Some believe that the didgeridoo is the world's oldest wind instrument. It may date back to 20,000 BC. The Didgeridoo is part of the musical, healing and ceremonial heritage of the aboriginal peoples of Australia. Traditional playing of the didgeridoo is accompanied by tapping out soft rhythms on the sides of the instrument while it is being played. Louder rhythms can be achieved by clapping sticks together. According to one rendition of an aboriginal legend, the first man wanted to please the sky. He put a hollowed eucalyptus branch to his mouth and began to play. With the force of his breath, the termites living in the hollow branch were expelled from the open end and became the stars.
The traditional didgeridoo is made from the branches of only a few eucalyptus species. These grow with a fleshy center. If an insect or animal makes a small hold in the outer bark of the branch, termites move in, hollowing out the branch or sapling within a year, but leaving the dense outer part of the branch intact. Once cut by a didgeridoo maker, the hollowed 'stick' is left to season for a few months. After that the bark is removed and the interior cleaned. Once dried ands clean, the outside is sanded and any holes are filled. With the addition of a beeswax mouthpiece the instrument is ready to play.
Today, the worldwide popularity of didgeridoos threatens the
sustainability of the Australian forests. The didgeridoos on this page
are made from
a number of natural and synthetic materials.
