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So... you might be wondering "what the heck is
that big log?"
Well my friend, it's called a yidaki, otherwise known as a didgeridoo (a.k.a. didjeridu, didj, etc.). Technically, it's an aerophone. And technically, it is a big hollow log - a eucalyptus log, to be precise. Here's the "encyclopedia" definition: Here's mine: The didj is possibly the oldest musical instrument on the planet, and it's still used in sacred performances by Yolngu tribes (the folks who invented the instrument, possibly over 30,000 years ago) in NE Arnhem land, Australia. Its purported healing powers (I'm defining that very loosely, so don't break out the bongs just yet) are utilized by various meditation and rehabilitation clinics around the world. While it might be a "Log" ("it's big! it's heavy! it's WOOD!"), it's also firmly rooted in mankind's cultural history. It may in fact be the world's first "bass" instrument, and has traditional uses similar to those in which a western bass accompaniment would be employed (no wonder I like it...).
Traditional yidakis are made from the trunks of eucalyptus trees that have been hollowed-out by termites (though non-traditional didgeridoos are made from all kinds of materials now, including leather and PVC pipes!). Since this is, as you'd imagine, a process steeped in a fair amount of randomness, thanks to the universal magic of chaos theory no two didjs can ever be exactly the same. And, since your lung cavity vibrates along with the didj when you play it, no two players ever sound exactly alike, either. Unlike traditional Western instruments, it's nearly impossible not to find your own personal "voice" on the didj. Some (more-or-less) mainstream bands that have used the didj include Yothu Yindi, Yes, Tuatara, and Jamiroquai, while cross-over artists like Alan Dargin, Axis, and David Hudson make the didj a central part of their music.
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