Sublime M*lk*yng*/Napurrawuy F/G yirdaki, played by Adam Marrilaga

This was one of 4 used instruments that I acquired from the late David M*lk*y Mununggurr just before his untimely passing, and the last and the best that I have from that batch. It is an instrument made at Wandawuy outstation by M*lk*y's waku'mirringu (nephew), Napurrawuy Wunungmurra. M*lk*y told me the instrument has been played right throughout the Miwatj region at outstation funerals and initiation ceremonies.

Adam Marrilaga sets this yirdaki on fire with his pumping virtuoso syncopations. The first segment was recorded a couple of days ago, the subsequent parts are from earlier today when Laga sat down in his favourite spot at iDIDJ Australia and went about practising those crazy rhythms. I was busy in the office doing admin work but hearing those insane rhythms broke my concentration. I had to go for a closer listen. So here it is, possibly the best freestyle yirdaki recording that I have of any yirdaki player. Note the "shock shock" signature rhythm of Adam in the later parts of the clip. Interestingly, Laga reckons the black segment of the yirdaki is the "bass" part, with the remaining distal end forming the "rhythm" section. He categorises instruments according to whether it is "lead", "rhythm" or "bass". This yirdaki has "bass" and "rhythm".

Marrilaga wants to take this yirdaki away for ceremony... not sure how I'm going to respond to that. Quick, someone buy it please!! I've got bank debts to re-pay!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• napurrawuy
• wunungmurra
• milkay
• milkayngu
• mununggurr
• adam
• marrilaga
• yolngu
• yidaki
• yirdaki
• didgeridoo
• didjeridu
• didge
• arnhemland
• arnhem
• land
• aboriginal
• music
• yothu
• yindi

[davidem1000000]

MANIMAK!!!!!!

[sonofthedestroyer]

Nice to hear from you again :-)

[ididjaustralia]

correcto mundo!

[sonofthedestroyer]

I think it is a way of showing respect to a deceased person.

[JustinFromSydney]

whats with the asterisks through out the name?

[PIKMINinMYGARDEN]

i completely forgot about using a hair dryer. i've never had to do it before but i remembered a little bit of how to make a mouthpiece. thanks for the tip

[weezar1986]

Wax mouthpiece? What kind of didge do you have? You can probably mend it with an hot air blower, but it may change what it sounded like initialy. Depending on what kind of material ur didge is made of, water maybe isnt a good idea.

[PIKMINinMYGARDEN]

i have a question: i recently moved and the mouth piece to my didg partially broke can i fix that easily by warming it in hot water or should i replace it?

[WhiteTiger333]

Whoot! Didn't want that to end. :) Sorry for the bank debts. I know that one too well.

[rabbitspliff]

and practice, of course, which i do. it'll be easier once i get my braces off lol.