Used ceremonial Mulkun Wirrpanda yirdaki from Dhuruputjpi outstation, played by Adam Marrilaga

This is a genuine ceremonial yirdaki that has been used at Dhuruputjpi outstation in eastern Arnhem Land, it is a bit unusual in that it has been elaborately painted when most instruments used in ceremony are unadorned or wrapped from head to foot in duct tape.

A beautiful sounding stick with a voluminous bore yet with high backpressure, it is clear that this is a valued instrument to Yolngu on account of the attention given to the mouthpiece. Car bog or some other similar substance has been used to reduce the diameter of the mouthpiece as the natural mouthpiece would have been too large for comfortable playing. The result is a yirdaki with very fine bass characteristics despite playing in a high key, thin walls throughout, and an ease of play to die for.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• yirdaki
• yidaki
• didgeridoo
• didjeridu
• miwatj
• laynha
• dhuruputjpi
• mulkun
• wirrpanda
• dhakiyarr
• dhudi
• djapu
• yolngu
• arnhemland
• arnhem
• land
• aboriginal
• musical
• instrument
• australia
• northern
• territory
• aborigine
• indigenous
• didge
• adam
• marrilaga
• wunungmurra
• dhalwangu

[ozmadman]

I was simply explaining why instruments are usually wrapped in duct tape, not the rights of wrongs of being materialistic or not

[alternatehistories]

@ozmadman see the above posts

[alternatehistories]

@nvrhaveaniceday Ozmadman's post below ignores the very practical reasons us "materialistic" westerners like things (our didjeridus) to be perfect. We pay $1000 or more for one of them and if they break, we can't simply walk into the bush and cut another for free like the people in Arnhem Land do. The Aboriginals do not need to worry so much. People's attitudes tend to be shaped/adapted by the abundance or scarcity of resources in their environment...eg people in the desert do not waste water.

[nvrhaveaniceday]

@ozmadman thats a pretty cool way of thinking

[ozmadman]

Because usually they are cracked andduct tape is the easiest fix. Unlike us who generally are materialistic and like things to be perfect Aborigines prize only the sound quality of an instrument. As long as it plays well thats all that matters even if it looks a mess!

[1tamtom]

thats great,he plays good.

[nvrhaveaniceday]

i can see why its decorated, because it ceremonial. But why are all the other once wrapped like that? why wrap an important ceramonial instrument in duct tape?

[commonagenet]

sounded great, i cant even make a sound when i blow into one, thanks for posting, cheers.