A musical instrument "Didgeridoo"

 

      A musical instrument "Didgeridoo"

                                                    Didgeridoo(made of Bamboo)

Few days ago, I got a chance to participate in a workshop of Theater and music department of Doon University. There I met with an assistant professor Mr. Abhishek who is the assistant professor of Japanies language of language department in Doon University. He played an instrument there and I got attracted with the sound created by the instrument he played. Thereafter, I met him and asked about the instrument and truly it is my first experience of this instrument which impressed me much due to its unique sound. Mr. Abhishek told that it is an Austrilain instrument and its name is "Didgeridoo". It also called the sound of nothingness. After this incident, I researched about this unique music instrument and  sharing with you whatever the knowledge I come across about this.

                                                                                           Asst.   Prof.   Mr.  Abhishek  Playing   Didgeridoo

The Didgeridoo is known as a wind instrument(the droning Aboriginal Australian wind instrument) made up of hollow wood of Bamboo.  The earliest occurrences of the word in print include  a 1908 edition of the " Hamilton Spectator " referring  to a 'did-gery-do'(hollow bamboo) [Hamilton Spectator. No. 7567. Victoria, Australia. 24 October 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 28 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.]. First time it is played by abnormal people in Northen Australia an estimated 1500 years ago. The Didgeridoo which played first time was made from fallen Bamboo branches that had been naturally hollowed but by termites. But the modern Didgeridoo’s are commonly made from eucalyptus, bamboo and agave. It is a pitched instrument as well as a percussion instrument. Each didge has one fundamental tone as well as series of overtones that can be altered by the lips of the player. It can also be played rhythmically serving as a bass as well as a time keeping instrument. It is used for several applications including beatboxing dance music and meditation practice. According to the Cambridge dictionary its meaning is “a long wooden wind instrument played by Australian Aborigines to produce a long deep sound".  Every instrument has some health benefits too. Therefore, playing didgeridoo has also amazing health benefits, which are found in some studies. An  article  published  in  2006  in  "The  British  Medical Journal" revealed  that learning and practicing the didgeridoo helped reduce   snoring  and   obstructive sleep apnea   by strengthening muscles in the upper airway, thus decreasing their tendency to disintegrate during sleep. [ "Didgeridoo playing as alternative treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: randomized    controlled trial,   Puhan MA, Suarez A, Lo Cascio C, et al. (2005)]  A small  study published in 2010 "The Journal of Rural Health",  reported the improvements in the management of asthma disease of Aboriginal teens when incorporating didgeridoo playing. [Eley, Robert; Gorman, Don (2010). "Didgeridoo Playing and Singing to Support Asthma Management in Aboriginal Australians"]. Music/sound produced by didgeridoo is a very pleasing sound. Here below the link is provided for the sound produced by didgeridoo. By clicking the link you can enjoy the music of didgeridoo. 

Thanks

written by Rocky Khajuria

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COfkwmFlmDM