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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 358456" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>I replied to your PM. I mentioned my sudden recall of Charlie McMahon, a guy who invented a modern version of the didgeridoo called a didgeribone. It's like a cross between a traditional didge, and a trombone. This way it can be tuned and can also change pitch mid-performance.</p><p></p><p>I finally found a link that will open - <a href="http://www.rhythmorganizm.com/products/didjeribone/didjeribone.php" target="_blank">http://www.rhythmorganizm.com/products/didjeribone/didjeribone.php</a></p><p></p><p>The issue is - does SO want a very traditional, authentic instrument made the classic way (hollowed out by termites, painted in ochres) because playing something like that would by like playing a valuable Strad you bought as an investment. Or does he wants something practical, something you can toss in the back of the ute on the way to a pub gig? In which case, something made of more practical materials is still acceptable. It can still be hollow timber, but decorated with pokerwork instead of ochres. Because ochre can flake off, pokerwork doesn't.</p><p></p><p>Charlie's didgeribone is made of plastic. He's chosen the materials for a combination of function, practicality and authentic sound. </p><p></p><p>Wherever you get it from, do more digging on the culture and the history, SO would need to know. When making my enquiries here I have begun my phone calls with, "I have a friend in the US who wants to buy a didge for her husband. I told her that there is a lot more she needs to know, before she simply buys what is on offer on various websites."</p><p>The vibe I got back was - too right! And thank you for asking...</p><p></p><p>husband had even more to do with the school and aboriginal culture than I did, he may have more to say on the topic (if he gets a moment to scratch himself!)</p><p></p><p>And for those who want to read a bit more about Charlie McMahon - here's his Wikipedia reference.</p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_McMahon" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_McMahon</a></p><p></p><p>I described him to the woman I spoke to at the Aboriginal Community Centre as "a white bloke with blackfella soul." Charlie is about the same age as me, he was growing up at a time when Australia was still trying to assimilate Aboriginal people. There were "mission kids" at my school, great kids who I had been told were living at the mission in order to get the chance to attend school, because where their families lives, there were no schools. This way they were getting a chance to be educated and learn to fit in. I never knew they didn't get to go home for holidays - they were totally cut off from their culture, and still not allowed to mix with us outside school. My parents would have let them come round for a playdate, but the Mission wouldn't allow it. Utterly appalling. But the Mission people really believed they were doing a good thing, giving these kids a chance. My parents subscribed to the Mission newsletter. It was called "Sky Pilot". If you can get your hands on a film called "Rabbit Proof Fence" by Philip Noyce, it describes the conflict in what was done. People really thought they were doing a good thing. They really did. Because we just didn't understand how complex, how valuable, Aboriginal culture really is. And it is not perfect - there are aspects to Aboriginal culture which tend to get glossed over, but also were a factor in "We have to save these people from themselves."</p><p></p><p>We know a lot more bow about human nature, about individual human development and about the need to really know your connection to your roots. But could the same things happen again? I think so.</p><p></p><p>A film mentioned by Charlie McMahon on the Wikipedia website, is "Jedda". A brilliant film, almost impossible to get a copy these days. But read about it, look it up on IMdB and read the back story. </p><p></p><p>Aboriginal culture developed in isolation from the rest of the world over 50,000 years. It is more different, than similar to any other traditional culture in the world. And yet - amazingly adaptive! But they NEED more than any other people, to be connected to their families, to their (very complex) kinships and to the land. Even a good friend of ours who is a teacher in the inner city school, who lives in our village, who is an artist with a classic Western style to her art - even she feels a strong need to go back to the land from time to time, to connect and recharge her batteries. It's more than the "need to get away" we sometimes feel. It's like an air hunger.</p><p></p><p>Interestingly, even though Charlie is a "gubba" (not very polite slang term for whitefella), he has always had this same need to "go bush" fairly often. Blackfella soul. I get it.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 358456, member: 1991"] I replied to your PM. I mentioned my sudden recall of Charlie McMahon, a guy who invented a modern version of the didgeridoo called a didgeribone. It's like a cross between a traditional didge, and a trombone. This way it can be tuned and can also change pitch mid-performance. I finally found a link that will open - [url]http://www.rhythmorganizm.com/products/didjeribone/didjeribone.php[/url] The issue is - does SO want a very traditional, authentic instrument made the classic way (hollowed out by termites, painted in ochres) because playing something like that would by like playing a valuable Strad you bought as an investment. Or does he wants something practical, something you can toss in the back of the ute on the way to a pub gig? In which case, something made of more practical materials is still acceptable. It can still be hollow timber, but decorated with pokerwork instead of ochres. Because ochre can flake off, pokerwork doesn't. Charlie's didgeribone is made of plastic. He's chosen the materials for a combination of function, practicality and authentic sound. Wherever you get it from, do more digging on the culture and the history, SO would need to know. When making my enquiries here I have begun my phone calls with, "I have a friend in the US who wants to buy a didge for her husband. I told her that there is a lot more she needs to know, before she simply buys what is on offer on various websites." The vibe I got back was - too right! And thank you for asking... husband had even more to do with the school and aboriginal culture than I did, he may have more to say on the topic (if he gets a moment to scratch himself!) And for those who want to read a bit more about Charlie McMahon - here's his Wikipedia reference. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_McMahon[/url] I described him to the woman I spoke to at the Aboriginal Community Centre as "a white bloke with blackfella soul." Charlie is about the same age as me, he was growing up at a time when Australia was still trying to assimilate Aboriginal people. There were "mission kids" at my school, great kids who I had been told were living at the mission in order to get the chance to attend school, because where their families lives, there were no schools. This way they were getting a chance to be educated and learn to fit in. I never knew they didn't get to go home for holidays - they were totally cut off from their culture, and still not allowed to mix with us outside school. My parents would have let them come round for a playdate, but the Mission wouldn't allow it. Utterly appalling. But the Mission people really believed they were doing a good thing, giving these kids a chance. My parents subscribed to the Mission newsletter. It was called "Sky Pilot". If you can get your hands on a film called "Rabbit Proof Fence" by Philip Noyce, it describes the conflict in what was done. People really thought they were doing a good thing. They really did. Because we just didn't understand how complex, how valuable, Aboriginal culture really is. And it is not perfect - there are aspects to Aboriginal culture which tend to get glossed over, but also were a factor in "We have to save these people from themselves." We know a lot more bow about human nature, about individual human development and about the need to really know your connection to your roots. But could the same things happen again? I think so. A film mentioned by Charlie McMahon on the Wikipedia website, is "Jedda". A brilliant film, almost impossible to get a copy these days. But read about it, look it up on IMdB and read the back story. Aboriginal culture developed in isolation from the rest of the world over 50,000 years. It is more different, than similar to any other traditional culture in the world. And yet - amazingly adaptive! But they NEED more than any other people, to be connected to their families, to their (very complex) kinships and to the land. Even a good friend of ours who is a teacher in the inner city school, who lives in our village, who is an artist with a classic Western style to her art - even she feels a strong need to go back to the land from time to time, to connect and recharge her batteries. It's more than the "need to get away" we sometimes feel. It's like an air hunger. Interestingly, even though Charlie is a "gubba" (not very polite slang term for whitefella), he has always had this same need to "go bush" fairly often. Blackfella soul. I get it. Marg [/QUOTE]
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