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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 358341" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>A true didge is made from a hollow tree, eaten out by termites and then painted using ochres by indigenous Australians. They cost a fortune and because of the natural timber plus ochres (dirt, basically) they can be a quarantine problem.</p><p></p><p>So there is a compromise made these days with more synthetic materials including more synthetic paint.</p><p></p><p>Australian Aborigines are a pragmatic people. When doing their traditional paintings, a lot of the artists these days not only compromise on their traditional designs but also materials. After all, culture is a dynamic thing and when a painter is putting together a masterpiece that reflects her life experience, these days it involves a great deal more than merely hunter-gathering. Traditional techniques (such as dot painting) may be used, but the subject matter and the materials may well be modern.</p><p></p><p>It is the same for a didgeridoo. What constitutes an authentic didge is no longer the termite-hollowed ochre-painted relic from the Northern Territory. Frankly, anything hollow will qualify, technically. I've seen Aboriginal performers (including Ernie Dingo - I'm sure there's got to be a YouTube link somewhere) using a PVC pipe. Ernie Dingo has done a comedy routine where he uses a vacuum cleaner pipe as a didge. It works just as well.</p><p></p><p>Traditionally, a didgeridoo is not handled by females. At the school my kids went to, the music teacher kept all the musical instruments in her office. But the didge was never touched by female hands; in fact, she would get the player himself (generally a local Aboriginal boy) to fetch it from her office, and put it back. I know not all schools follow this custom but it is a cultural respect thing.</p><p></p><p>Trying to buy a didge from the US - you risk being ripped off, big-time. I can't recommend any particular place because I just don't know for sure. However, the more mainstream stores are more likely to be "ridgy-didge" (authentic). With touristy prices, unfortunately, and the bulk of profit going to the (foreign-owned) store, not the original artist. You might have some success if you can contact an Aboriginal community, or a gallery that deals fairly.</p><p></p><p>I've got to talk to a few people anyway (including the old school my kids went to) so I'll ask them where they bought THEIR didge. That way we get the best deal, plus the fairest deal, plus (hopefully) the more authentic product. But seriously - price could be highly variable, because some of these, especially the really traditional ones, are not just musical instruments, they are valuable artworks.</p><p></p><p>Aboriginal culture works a different way to any other culture I've encountered. The ownership of stories, of designs even of painting techniques is steeped in tradition and eldership. Some people think they can easily copy a design, but in doing so they risk more than breach of copyright; they risk breach of tribal lore in a big way. Only some people in a tribe have permission to use certain painting techniques (such as dot painting) and even commercial sale of such work can be highly controlled by the same tribal lore.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, I'll make some enquiries for you.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 358341, member: 1991"] A true didge is made from a hollow tree, eaten out by termites and then painted using ochres by indigenous Australians. They cost a fortune and because of the natural timber plus ochres (dirt, basically) they can be a quarantine problem. So there is a compromise made these days with more synthetic materials including more synthetic paint. Australian Aborigines are a pragmatic people. When doing their traditional paintings, a lot of the artists these days not only compromise on their traditional designs but also materials. After all, culture is a dynamic thing and when a painter is putting together a masterpiece that reflects her life experience, these days it involves a great deal more than merely hunter-gathering. Traditional techniques (such as dot painting) may be used, but the subject matter and the materials may well be modern. It is the same for a didgeridoo. What constitutes an authentic didge is no longer the termite-hollowed ochre-painted relic from the Northern Territory. Frankly, anything hollow will qualify, technically. I've seen Aboriginal performers (including Ernie Dingo - I'm sure there's got to be a YouTube link somewhere) using a PVC pipe. Ernie Dingo has done a comedy routine where he uses a vacuum cleaner pipe as a didge. It works just as well. Traditionally, a didgeridoo is not handled by females. At the school my kids went to, the music teacher kept all the musical instruments in her office. But the didge was never touched by female hands; in fact, she would get the player himself (generally a local Aboriginal boy) to fetch it from her office, and put it back. I know not all schools follow this custom but it is a cultural respect thing. Trying to buy a didge from the US - you risk being ripped off, big-time. I can't recommend any particular place because I just don't know for sure. However, the more mainstream stores are more likely to be "ridgy-didge" (authentic). With touristy prices, unfortunately, and the bulk of profit going to the (foreign-owned) store, not the original artist. You might have some success if you can contact an Aboriginal community, or a gallery that deals fairly. I've got to talk to a few people anyway (including the old school my kids went to) so I'll ask them where they bought THEIR didge. That way we get the best deal, plus the fairest deal, plus (hopefully) the more authentic product. But seriously - price could be highly variable, because some of these, especially the really traditional ones, are not just musical instruments, they are valuable artworks. Aboriginal culture works a different way to any other culture I've encountered. The ownership of stories, of designs even of painting techniques is steeped in tradition and eldership. Some people think they can easily copy a design, but in doing so they risk more than breach of copyright; they risk breach of tribal lore in a big way. Only some people in a tribe have permission to use certain painting techniques (such as dot painting) and even commercial sale of such work can be highly controlled by the same tribal lore. Anyway, I'll make some enquiries for you. Marg [/QUOTE]
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