Marimunuk Gurruwiwi giving yidaki tuition in Arnhem Land

This is part of what you will experience on eco-cultural tours to Arnhem Land. I helped organise a study tour for Francois from France, and Ryohei and Tenshi from Japan, who wished to meet Djalu and to learn something of Yolngu culture... and proper traditional yidaki playing of course!

Marimunuk here gives tuition to Francois, Ryohei and Tenshi. Marimunuk's enthusiasm is infectious. This guy has so much energy, so much life force, it seems he might explode because of it!

It was the first time in Arnhem Land for Francois, Ryohei and Tenshi and the traditional rhythms a challenge. Ryohei had been practising a lot prior to this trip, and picked up very quickly when listening to Marimunuk, Djalu, Winiwini, Laga and other Yolngu yidaki players who gave us their time. Francois and Tenshi made good progress and changed from being purely contemporary players to resembling traditional style by the end of the trip. Good job guys!

The next big project I am helping to organise is Djalu's Rripangu Yirdaki Masterclass 2008. See the iDIDJ Forum for details:

http://www.forum.ididj.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=298

Places are limited so inquire early to avoid missing out.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• marimunuk
• gurruwiwi
• djalu
• rripangu
• yirdaki
• didgeridoo
• didjeridu
• yidaki
• arnhem
• land
• tour
• aboriginal
• yolngu
• music
• culture

[davidcrut]

does anyone know of a website where I can learn this style of playing? that high note sounds awesome

[ididjaustralia]

@davidcrut check out and join the iDIDJ Forum, 400+ members there, see you there and feel free to ask any questions.

[Mittedesselbst]

Who is the japonese looking man starting to play at 2:48 and 5:47?

He has got it, the spirit and all about,

easy.Great.

[ididjaustralia]

That's Ryohei!

[sonofthedestroyer]

Although i like listening to traditional didgeridoo i find that in nearly all the videos the playing is very fast and aggressive and dosent at all sound spiritual and serene. Strangely enough contemporary style playing seems to have a more spiritual impact on me. Have i missed something?

[ididjaustralia]

Depends on what you mean by serene and spiritual. Also, why would traditional didgeridoo music have either of these qualities? These are big presumptions, perhaps romantised ones about Aboriginal people, culture and spirituality? The didgeridoo accompanies dance and song in traditional ceremony, and both can be frenetic... nothing serene at all!

[rabbitspliff]

i agree with you on all points, except you may not have noticed, but the didgeridoo is already widely learnt by non indigenous people around the world. what i'd like to see more of is more of those non indigenous people learning it in the traditional styles, rather than some of the more contemporary styles which sometimes pointlessly go through one ear and out the other.

[mahoran]

u playing western style so your skills are just useless when it comes to yirdaki :) sorry

[onespiritful1]

Great playing God Bless

[naza220]

there is a track from jamiroquai called "Journey to arnhemland" remembering this place! (sorrry for my english)

[theHRproductions]

Can you please put more marimuk videos up? He plays amazingly!!

[theHRproductions]

It'd sure be fun to learn yidaki

[davidcrut]

How do you play that high BEEP sound?! lol It sounds awesome

[Cre8iveSignWorks]

wow those sticks sound awesome!