Didgeridoo – Déjà Vu?

In addition to being a very nifty tongue-twister, the title of this piece has to be just about the strangest ever seen here on the ol’ GMC. Still, it does make sense — I think. Let me elaborate.

I’ve always been fascinated by the didgeridoo (occasionally spelled didjeridoo), the strange musical instrument most often associated with indigenous Australians. But as I began to put this piece together I kept feeling like I’d done this before. You know, that ‘been there, done that’ feeling?

You might think I’d remember for sure, but after 800+ posts stretching back over nearly five years, it’s not that simple — especially when you have a Swiss cheese memory. But according to the ‘search’ function the subject has not appeared here before, so….

You can go to Wikipedia for a complete history of the didgeridoo, and I’ve included a video below that features some outstanding historical visuals in addition to the sounds of the instrument itself.

The didgeridoo has also fascinated a lot of modern musicians, and I’m not just talking about the shaggy-haired guys in the photo. Jazz legend Duke Ellington wrote and recorded a song named after the instrument, although a didgeridoo was not actually played on the record. However, baritone sax master Harry Carney certainly paid tribute to this emblem of Australian history.

Duke Ellington & Orchestra – “Didgeridoo”

 

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