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Save the Endangered Didgeridoo!
On Saturday Oct. 25, 7pm, at Montpelier’s Unitarian Church, a regional concert series continues with the second of three events to Save the Endangered Didgeridoo! The Didgeridoo (Yidaki) is native to Australia and considered to be the world’s oldest musical instrument, dating back at least 40,000 years. Often overlooked by music dictionaries, the Didgeridoo is an Aboriginal wind instrument that is made from a tree limb hollowed out by termites. There are various sizes, ranging from about 3 feet to nearly 10 feet in length. The player blows into the mouthpiece end, using circular breathing (a technique used by some brass players) and emits a continuous flow of fascinating and somewhat eerie, yet wonderful sounds.
This event is the second in the series, with a culminating celebration on Saturday Nov. 22 to honor National Didgeridoo Day in the USA. All events will honor the Didgeridoo and showcase its sonic flexibility, within many diverse musical styles. All shows will be at the Unitarian Church at 7pm, and are free to the public.
Each date will feature a Didgeridoo workshop led by East Montpelier resident, Pitz Quattrone. Quattrone has been researching, playing, performing, teaching and building Didgeridoos since 1993. He will discuss and demonstrate playing techniques and pass along some of the history and lore surrounding this fascinating instrument that he has learned to date.
The Didgeridoo will be highlighted in various musical settings. The leadoff group will be The Earthman Band, a central Vermont trio that includes Didgeridoo, Bass and the African drum, the Djembe. Their musical stylings range from Funk, Worldbeat, Spacewave and Hip-Hop. Various guests will join Pitz on stage performing different styles of music. The guests include but are not limited to: Montpelier’s Jairo and Gabe Sequeira who will play Nicaraguan and South American traditional music. The audience will witness the sonic versatility of the Didgeridoo as it is played in a wide variety of musical situations. This is a great chance to learn something culturally and historically significant.
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