| Name and Country |
Do you prefer to play contemporary or traditional styles on the didgeridoo? |
Do you prefer to listen to contemporary or traditional styles on the didgeridoo? |
What is the difference between contemporary and traditional style playing? |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Traditional was to replicate the indigenous sounds of the area. contemporary enlists modern sounds and rhythms. |
| Robert from USA |
Can not play |
Traditional |
Unsure |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary playing fuses didgeridoo with other styles like electronic music for example. In the traditional style you try to express or recreate the sounds of the aboriginal world by recreating the sounds of the animals and the country. |
| Kristyn from Canada |
Do not know |
Traditional |
I am not exactly sure but I would think that contemporary playing would be a more freestyle kind of approach where as traditional would be slower and tied to specific ceremonies. |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
The same difference between to be act |
| Paul from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
NO clue |
| Maximiliano from Argentina |
Both |
Both |
Traditional style preserves the connection between the man and Gods between then man and his soul. |
| Patrice from Netherlands |
Do not know |
Both |
Traditional is more constant and meditative? |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Different styles |
| Derek from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
I am not familiar enough with any of it yet to really comment |
| Brandon from USA |
Both |
Contemporary |
From what I have heard traditional style incorporates very irregular rhythmic patterns free verse and is meant to be more narrative based. Contemporary is just the opposite... rhythms based with more non-traditional accompaniment. |
| Glen from Canada |
Do not know |
Traditional |
Don't know |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Not really sure at this point. Just getting in to it. |
| Sami from Finland |
Both |
Both |
Like night and day |
| Kevin from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Traditional has more of a story to tell while the contemporary deals for with different tones and sounds. |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Traditional didgeridoo playing follows the sounds and rhythms of the earth and animals - eg kangaroos bouncing kookaburra. Contemporary didgeridoo involves more modern concepts and includes mixing with other music and other instruments |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Traditional |
As far as I know traditional is played by artist such as Djalu Gurruwiwi. Traditional and contemporary has been played by artist like Ash Dargan and pure modern fusion from artist such as Xavier Rudd. I am not completely knowledgeable of the complete work of these artist and could be somewhat wrong. |
| John Skillcorn from United Kingdom |
Traditional |
Both |
I think the amount and type of backing. I've heard recordings where you can hardly hear the didgeridu. If given the choice I prefer aboriginal instruments as an accompaniment. |
| Chandler from USA |
Contemporary |
Contemporary |
Traditional didj is with animal sounds and screaming whereas contemporary is a more modern and techno sounding form. |
| Keith Kofoed from USA |
Both |
Both |
Not sure |
| Nick from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I haven't heard enough didj recordings to understand. |
| Katlinel from USA |
Traditional |
Both |
Traditional style has many animal sounds and uses few additional instruments such as clapsticks. Contemporary can include many different instruments additional vocalizations and even singing instead of chanting. |
| Mani from Australia |
Both |
Both |
Traditional styles is used for ceremony and has more meaning. contemporary can be anything. |
| Mike from Belgium |
Do not know |
Traditional |
I'm still learning |
| Marlon Fuller from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
???????? >>>>> |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
N/a |
| Nathan from USA |
Both |
Both |
Use of more complex rhythms other instruments electronics etc. define contemporary playing; traditional playing tends to utilize only a few other traditional instruments and the rhythms are more applicable to ceremonial use than entertainment. |
| Luke from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
I don't know |
| Paul from USA |
Both |
Both |
I'm not sure but I have not seen other instruments used in traditional style. |
| G Hobart from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Unknown |
| Katie from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
I WOULD SAY TRADITIONAL SOUNDS MORE LIKE A RAW FLOW WHEREAS CONTEMPORARY HAS A MODERN TWIST. |
| Anonymous from France |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't really know the difference between both playing but I guess its principally the structure of the song who differs |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Traditional |
Traditional playing is with clapsticks and meant to ceremonials contemporary uses different styles/techniques to play like using the voice and own rhythms. |
| Jeff from USA |
Both |
Both |
How the mouth is on didj traditional rhythms? |
| Stephen from USA |
Contemporary |
Contemporary |
Traditional features sounds from nature Contemporary features playing along with musicians as an instrument in the group |
| Sonya from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Traditional ceremony purposes-Contemporary fun recreation. |
| Mario Percinic from Croatia/Hrvatska |
Both |
Both |
Traditional style uses much more sounds connected to yolongu people which are unknown for white didge players. On the other hand traditional playing and traditional songs contain the story behind the playing so once you become familiar with ancient aboriginal sounds which come out of the didge it is very nice for interpreting the story behind the song. |
| Kevin D. Babiuk from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't know |
| James from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
I believe contemporary is using the didgeridoo to play accompaniment in modern music. |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Do not know yet |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Do not know |
Melodies in contemporary |
| Anonymous from Canada |
Can not play |
Both |
One has tradition instruments and style of play while the other has modern instruments in use or electronic elements. |
| Anonymous from Canada |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I'm not quite sure. |
| Mark from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Don't know but I would venture to say that contemporary is a modern style where as traditional would be the original music from the aborigine people. |
| Gregor from Germany |
Both |
Both |
..the contemporary is taking in elements of other musical genres and instruments of different cultures |
| Colin from Australia |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary is modern traditional is thousands of years old |
| Isabel from Portugal |
Do not know |
Both |
I begin to listen to traditional style a few years ago and loved it very much. Lately I have listened only to contemporary style. The way I can describe what I recall of the traditional stile is having a stronger rhythm and more earth bound. |
| Jerry from Australia |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Contemporary playing uses various methods to create various sounds while traditional playing is used with clapsticks and ceremonial dancing |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't know. |
| John from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary playing uses more vocalization and modern rhythms |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Michael O'Neal from USA |
Both |
Both |
I would guess contemporary would involve playing with other instruments and with other styles of music. |
| Anonymous |
Contemporary |
Both |
-The traditional is more a-rhytmic and for ritual purpose. and has to be taught.(which I haven d had the chance to unfortunately!) -The contemporary seems more circular to me and contains more melodic to be accompanied by classical instruments like guitars and other string instruments |
| Anonymous |
Contemporary |
Both |
Contemporary is using the sounds and techniques to create new music improvisation etc. Traditional is songs sounds playing styles passed down from generation to generation. Traditional can generally be more rhythmic with one overtone or no overtone while contemporary often has many vocal effects. |
| Hayley from Australia |
Both |
Both |
I believe that the traditional styles have a link to the the spirit world that help the aboriginal people to connect. modern styles are more suited to what people like to hear these days. |
| Deborah from USA |
Both |
Both |
I think that traditional didgeridoo playing is more mystical and sacred and not played by all in public. Contemporary may have a more performance orientation but because of the nature of the instrument my thought is that all playing of the didgeridoo with respect can have a healing and trancelike quality |
| Paul Sprague from USA |
Both |
Both |
Accompaniment |
| Teemu from Finland |
Both |
Both |
There might be like strict ways how to play in traditional playing and contemporary has no limitations. |
| Wayne from USA |
Both |
Both |
In my mind it is the style used. Contemporary players usually combine with a guitar or another instrument. Traditional players play solo or with clap sticks or maybe drums. |
| Ryan from Canada |
Both |
Traditional |
Traditional is usually mainly used in conjunction with singing clap sticks and dancing in ceremonies however they can also be played informally. Contemporary playing uses various techniques to create a didgeridoo sound or rhythm. The player has free range to use these techniques to develop their own unique style. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Unsure |
| Neil from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
I would imagine the style and rhythms as well as accompaniment. |
| Anonymous from Netherlands |
Both |
Both |
The contemporary didgeridoo style is that played by all those musicians buskers and lounge room didgeridoo players out there who play because they love the sound of the didgeridoo and enjoy its unique qualities as a musical instrument. The contemporary playing style is largely left up to the imagination influences and skill of the players as to what kind of sounds and rhythms they want to play. |
| Clancy Mueller from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
?? |
| Anonymous from USA |
Both |
Both |
I'm not sure there is much of a difference as far as I know of |
| Anonymous from USA |
Traditional |
Both |
Contemp I feel is the "modern" way to play IE beat boxing where as traditional is more steady tones |
| Daniel from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary is more trance and traditional is something you'd hear an aboriginal do. |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Traditional |
I love when more traditional sounds give a ritual like energy |
| Anonymous |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Contemporary is styled differently in many ways and can be used to any type of music |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Not sure |
| Felipe Gallo from Colombia |
Both |
Both |
Mainly what I have found contemporary is more enjoyable for other people because of the rhythm |
| Mimi from USA |
Can not play |
Traditional |
Now that would be difficult for me to denote. |
| Matthew from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
I am not 100% sure. |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Both |
Not really sure guessing were the didge playing is an addition to a song and fitted into the music of that song |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I have no idea. |
| Karl from Australia |
Contemporary |
Both |
One is more of telling of stories and the other is more towards making a song |
| Seth Thompson from USA |
Both |
Both |
I imagine traditional would be repeated basic tones in the background of music or for trance purposes. contemporary I would imagine might be using many different rhythms in the same song |
| Anonymous from Australia |
Can not play |
Both |
I am a little unsure about this but without using Google I would assume that the difference would be the purpose of playing such as ceremonies etc? Or how they are made and what they are made from. |
| Amy from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
The difference is in the player's perception I'd say |
| Carson Keys from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I do not know the difference between contemporary and traditional didgeridoo playing styles |
| Rick from USA |
Both |
Both |
With contemporary the didj accompanies other instruments. With traditional the didj stands alone or is accompanied with clap sticks dancing and/or singing. |
| Anonymous from South Africa |
Do not know |
Do not know |
No idea. |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Different rhythms and sounds |
| Dain from United Kingdom |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Not entirely sure. |
| Caesar from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary usually adds 'modern' instruments (drums guitar etc). Traditional is solo didge with maybe clapsticks and singing. I took lessons and my teacher (John Villa) who studied under Bill Harney (from Katherine I think)explained that many rhythms and vocalizations are particular to various Aboriginal clans. I think that it is probably difficult to impossible for a non Aboriginal who was not exposed to traditional way of playing to actually learn the traditional ways - like an adult trying to learn a new language and not speak with an accent - literally impossible. |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
I think contemporary is more rhythmic |
| Bill from USA |
Both |
Both |
To me it's more electronics involved in the contemporary. |
| Mauricio Maldonado from Mexico |
Both |
Both |
Traditional focuses on reproducing the sounds of nature and accompanying stories. Contemporary tries to combine the sound and rhythm of the didgeridoo with other instruments and to search for different sounds for making new rhythms. |
| Rick from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemp. is modern traditional is ceremonial down to earth |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Don't Know |
| Ville from Finland |
Do not know |
Both |
I think playing the didge with the corner of your mouth is a contemporary thing but I'm not that well read in the subject to say anything else:D |
| Anonymous |
Traditional |
Both |
Contemporary are made of other material such as non-native wood or plastic |
| Ori from Israel |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Both |
Traditional |
The uses of the music. Traditional playing has more meaning behind it. |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't know. |
