| 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 |
Melodic styles? |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Only know of the differences in a didj made of authentic tree and one made of plastic pipes. Not sure of difference in style playing... |
| Gary from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Based on listening to recordings I think more of the contemporary" play relies on somewhat recent melodies and music compositions. Sometimes that is in an accompanying role; sometimes it is in a main role in the piece. While this can be nice I prefer a lot of the older pieces that include various calls including animal calls." |
| George Brock from USA |
Both |
Both |
It appears that aboriginal playing is more rhythmic |
| Anonymous from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't know. |
| Graeme from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary is less complicated and precise. They are entirely different. |
| Graeme White from United Kingdom |
Contemporary |
Both |
Tonguing/ vocalisation |
| Greg from Australia |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I don't really know I have a CD by Ash Dargen which is really good. I would love to be able to play like that |
| Gypsy Mama from Canada |
Do not know |
Both |
Contemporary often includes electronics and other instruments which may or may not be acoustic. Traditional tends to remain acoustic when including other instruments and is often meditative though this is true of many contemporary recordings that encourage our tribal connections. |
| Howard Williamson from USA |
Traditional |
Both |
I have to admit that I really don't know. |
| Anonymous |
Contemporary |
Contemporary |
Contemporary is accompaniment and traditional is solo |
| Ian from USA |
Traditional |
Both |
Traditional style consists of playing the way it has always been played- drones over-tones hoots growls barks circular breathing. Contemporary style integrates the didgeridoo into a band of different instruments of many colors. |
| Ilias from France |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary style added mostly vocal sounds. |
| Jaime-lynn from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary is more danceable. |
| James Byron from United Kingdom |
Both |
Both |
Traditional playing involves complex fast rhythms using the tongue throat and diaphragm. The knowledge and rhythms required for traditional playing style is passed down by word of mouth. Contemporary style is anything else and the contemporary player has free range to use various techniques to develop their own unique style of contemporary playing. |
| James from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Old and new |
| James from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Contemporary is more synchopatic |
| Anonymous from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Contemporary playing is based on modern rhythms ( rock hip hop....) |
| Jan from Australia |
Do not know |
Both |
More research needed by me. Um I like what I hear. |
| Janene from Australia |
Can not play |
Both |
Traditional is the style used in ceremonies contemporary for entertainment for all people to hear |
| Jason from Australia |
Contemporary |
Both |
The sound and speed |
| Jeff from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Traditional: prescribed rhythms and techniques for certain situations. contemporary: just play! |
| Anonymous from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
I was taught traditional don't know much contemporary |
| Jeffrey from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Contemporary uses effects and multitrack recording. |
| Jeffrey from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
The didj has become quite popular in the avant-garde music scene. but it's a world away from the more natural rhythms and sounds of traditional. |
| Jenni Abbott from Australia |
Can not play |
Traditional |
Overtone- present and overtone absent styles are traditional while contemporary is anything else. |
| Jennifer from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Not sure |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Both |
I don't know |
| Anonymous from Netherlands |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't quite understand the difference. I understand it has something to do with positioning your lips? I'm afraid my english lacks. |
| Jessica from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
To be honest I don't know the difference |
| Anonymous from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary is basically freestyle while traditional is a very specific rhythm often handed down through generations. |
| Joan from USA |
Can not play |
Traditional |
Probably the vocal effects |
| Joanne from Australia |
Can not play |
Both |
One is drawn from traditional styles the other has a wider global influence |
| Joe from USA |
Both |
Traditional |
Contemporary takes into account modern styles and techniques of playing. The traditional style maintains the tried and true techniques of our ancestors. |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Traditional is nature oriented |
| Joey Terhljan from Canada |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Johan Thaens from Belgium |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Rhythm + social environment |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I honestly am to sure |
| John (no Kidding!) from Canada |
Both |
Both |
Traditional tends to be - from what I've heard - 1 maybe 2 didj players at any given time sometimes with or without Aboriginal singing and maybe clap sticks hand clapping etc. More about an explanation of surrounding nature than songs with other musical instruments dance beats etc. Based on the languages of the various Aboriginal nations. While some is strictly for entertainment purposes it is more the song / language of the land and people. Contemporary is more along the lines of including other instruments rhythms influenced by other countries / styles more trumpeting and usually as more of an accompanying instrument. Although can include many of the same sounds and animal calls the feel of the music is different. |
| John from USA |
Do not know |
Traditional |
Only heard traditional |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Traditional |
Traditional is more primal sounding |
| Jonathan from Australia |
Contemporary |
Both |
In my experience contemporary has a fast and consistent beat more in the style of techno. Traditional playing is usually slower and intended to tell a story with different sounds having different meanings often while accompanying singing and dancing. |
| Joni from Finland |
Contemporary |
Both |
There seems to be a growing trend of combining beatboxin with didgeridoo playing which for me is the signature contemporary style of playing"." |
| Jonny Monument from United Kingdom |
Do not know |
Both |
I am self taught so I just do my own thing... therefore I am not really sure what I am playing! I like it though. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
I'm actually in the middle of writing a paper that touches on this for an ethnomusicology class. Traditional style varies a lot from contemporary western playing in terms of the motivation rhythmic complexity tuning or rather the freedom from tuning in traditional style etc. |
| June from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary is used in the context of modern music with modern beats. Traditional is more spiritual. I am playing my didj in an Irish/Scottish band.:) |
| Justin Castillo from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Can't tell |
| Kai Lehrke from Canada |
Contemporary |
Both |
Not totally sure.. Traditional tunes sound to me fast and complex. |
| Karolina from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
Traditional didgeridoos are mainly used in conjunction with singing clap sticks and dancing for ceremonial purposes however they can also be played informally. The instrument is typically played in ceremonies by one young man specially selected for his talent. Playing styles vary between different regions of Northern Australia and often involve fast complex rhythms with sounds created by intricate tongue work.... While it sounds formal |
| Anonymous |
Contemporary |
Both |
Contemporary incorporates modern elements to the rhythms ie: hiphop jazz rock etc.. |
| Keith from United Kingdom |
Contemporary |
Both |
Traditional is played in its purest form contemporary is mixed with modern instrumentation |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I am not sure to be honest. |
| Ken from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't know |
| Kenny Elvin from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Traditional playing has much to do with the group you represent or emulate. Not having been excepted into a clan or skin group limits my bridge. I have a kookaburra as a pet and learned a lot from his calls and that effect. There's a lot of stuff that continues to present itself. Contemporary would be any style of music other than traditional. I own CD's in different styles both traditional and contemporary. Enjoy Stephan Kent and his KPFA show. SToked! |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
DON'T KNOW |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Traditional |
There's no stories of the dreamtimes in contemporary didge. not to mention the aboriginals wouldn't beatbox into a didge/mago/yidaki |
| Kim from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
?? |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Traditional has set patterns while contemporary is a free for all |
| Anonymous from Australia |
Can not play |
Both |
Contemporary mixes other types of instruments and types of music whereas traditional style is just how it was played pre-european settlement |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Contemporary |
Beat |
| Anonymous from United Kingdom |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Rhythm and sound techniques |
| Lee Chang from Japan |
Do not know |
Both |
Contemporary I think of modern bands using the didge when I think Traditional I think solo didge playing for spiritual cultural purposes. |
| Lee from Australia |
Both |
Traditional |
Traditional style tells a story and is filled with meaning and spirituality contemporary is anything else that can be played with a didj. |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Both |
I don't know |
| Les from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
To me contemporary can include the use of modern instruments such as the guitar brass and non-traditional style of drums including those from other countries. I like Didge Techno and Trance music. Traditional style is one that is indicative of the Aboriginal play style including that of their ancestors to tell a story or to express an emotion. |
| Liela Ross from USA |
Both |
Both |
Not sure I like it all I learn from them all. I actually do my chanting through my Didgeridoo. Heng Ar Hung NA Mo A Mi Tuo Fo Om Mani Padme Hum etc. |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Both |
Don't know |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Depends on area you are from |
| Luca from Italy |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Anonymous from Australia |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Unfortunately I do not yet understand the difference. |
| Luz from Italy |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary playing fits in the way of how we in the west listen to music we want to keep the right rhythm in order to be able to play with other musician traditional playing doesn't fit in the way how we listen to music/rhythm in fact it's not music but storytelling |
| Maeve from Ireland |
Contemporary |
Both |
Contemporary playing has more freedom to it and a contemporary player can develop their own techniques. Traditional playing is used in conjunction with clapping dancing stick beating and ceremonial purposes. |
| Marc from Canada |
Do not know |
Both |
Don't know |
| Margaret from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Don't know I would guess the tune as opposed to a natural beat |
| Mark from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
I have no idea |
| Martin Donnelly from Thailand |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary brings in other instruments and structures. Traditional is more focused on the older rhythms and blends the older languages in the sounds |
| Anonymous from United Kingdom |
Do not know |
Traditional |
Traditional is didges and percussion modern uses other instruments -- well that 's how I see it. |
| Anonymous from Canada |
Can not play |
Both |
I have not researched the difference however I listen to the music and let myself decide whether I enjoy it or not. |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Have no idea |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
The phonemic sounds made by the player. |
| Anonymous |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Rhythm |
| Melissa from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I am still studying the difference in styles at this time. |
| Michael Lipson from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
It seems there is more variety in contemporary play. |
| Michael from Ireland |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Traditional would be more tribal and meditative and contemporary would be designed for the ear and for entertainment |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I honestly have no idea! |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Both |
Often involve fast complex rhythms with sounds created by intricate tongue work. While the other is for more of a kicked back situation. |
| Mike Clayton from United Kingdom |
Contemporary |
Both |
I'm not sure but I would guess that traditional is related to spirituality/rituals and as such has a special meaning to Aboriginal people. Contemporary then must be the current popular use as a musical accompaniment. |
| Miroslav Miskovic from Serbia |
Traditional |
Both |
Traditional mainly imitate the sounds of the nature while the modern style is mainly freestyle based on experimentation of whatever sounds pop into your mind |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Nancy from USA |
Do not know |
Traditional |
Difference of background instruments/addition of instruments from Ireland and England |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Contemporary |
Traditional is more rigid. contemporary is more free flowing. |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Both |
I consider contemporary to be played with modern instruments such a guitar and drums and traditional to be just didgeridoo played with harmonics and drones. |
