May 29, 2006

Hello. I'm Elizabeth Lickiss.

Voice 2

And I'm Marina Santee. Welcome to our program in Specialized English. This program uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 3

'It is coming from the heart,
It is coming from the land,
It is a soul instrument.
You feel it.
It is the sound of the earth.'

Voice 1

The sound of the didgeridoo. The didgeridoo is one of the oldest and most simple musical instruments in use today. You may know it by one of its native Australian names such as yidali, yidaki and bombo. There are no native words that sound even similar to the word 'digeridoo.' So where did this word come from? One suggestion is that the word comes from the Irish language, Gaelic.

The words d�daire and duh. Dudaire means trumpeter - a trumpet is a kind of wind instrument. People blow air through wind instruments to make sound. And the other Gaelic word, duhh, means black. So together the words mean 'black trumpeter.'

Voice 2

The native Australians invented the didgeridoo. They made didgeridoos to communicate over long distances. But these people use them in other ways, too. They use digeridoos in religious ceremonies. They use them to express feelings and thoughts. And they use them to help them to connect with nature. After all, the wooden instruments come from the earth.

Voice 1

Native Australians make digeridoos from small wooden trees. They hit the trees gently and listen to the sound. They need to find trees that are hollow inside - without a middle. Particular trees are like this when small insects eat the middle of the trees. A digeridoo maker cuts the straight part of the tree to the right size. Digeridoos usually measure a meter and a half long and five centimetres across. Then, the maker cleans out the middle of the trees. Next he smooths the outside and the ends. He then attaches a mouthpiece to his tube shaped instrument. The digeridoo is now ready to play!

Voice 2

But playing the didgeridoo is not easy. There are digeridoo teachers. But natives often say to learners, 'let the didgeridoo do the teaching'. So with only a didgeridoo for company, learners travel into the open land of Australia. Here, surrounded by the sounds of nature they begin their experience with the didgeridoo.

Voice 1

Listen to the deep long sounds of the instrument. The sounds seem endless. The player is clearly not stopping to breath. How does he do this?

Voice 2

He produces these long sounds by using a special method called, 'circular' breathing. Circular breathing permits players to blow while breathing in more air. This involves breathing in through the nose and out of the mouth at the same time - breathing in a circle. This is not easy. Some teachers suggest water breathing first. This works in this way:

Voice 1

Fill your mouth with water so the sides of your mouth fill out. Gently push the sides of your mouth with your hands. This releases the water. Push your tongue from the back of your mouth to the front. Take short breaths in through your nose to give you continuous air. Make sure your tongue prevents you from swallowing the water. Repeat the exercise until you can do it easily! It may take a while!

Voice 2

Breathing in this way is difficult at first. It not something that our bodies are used to. However once you learn how to do it, playing the didgeridoo is easy! A good player can breathe in this way for thirty minutes or more. He can produce these beautiful deep sounds, without stopping, for more than half an hour! And once you have mastered the digeridoo you can use it to express thoughts and feelings.  

Voice 1

Australian player Mike Lane has mastered the digeridoo. He now performs with his group, Rivertribe. The group combines the deep sounds of the didgeridoo with the soft music of the violin and flute. Mike is the founding member of the group. He said his interest began with a gift. His brother gave him two didgeridoos as presents. These gifts changed his life. He said,

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'Once I picked up that instrument my whole opinion of music changed. Rivertribe grew out of that.'

Voice 1

And today people across the world enjoy Rivertribe's music. The group has played in countries all over the world. People enjoy listening to its peaceful, instrumental sounds. They use it to rest their minds from the worries of every day life.

Voice 2

And this is exactly how Rivertribe want people to use their music. They aim to create powerful, effective music. They put a lot of their own emotions and feelings in it. Group member Matthew Aitchison told us his feelings about their music;

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We try and put the spirit of what we believe into our music. I guess what we see as a reaction from people is often an international tourist will be listening to us in the street and they will start crying. They will say, you know, the music just affected me deeply.'

Voice 1

Music can have a deep and powerful effect on those who hear it. Peaceful music like Rivertribe's enables the mind to travel to different places. It can help people think about the deeper meanings of life. Mike Lane said that there is a spiritual element to life. But people have dismissed this - both inside and outside the church. As Christian artists they hope to connect people to this deeper side of life - to nature, to life, to God. One writer described Rivertribe's music like this,

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'... a musical experience that leads listeners on a trip that extends from the earth to the heavens and back.' Voice 1We finish this programme with one of Rivertribe's songs, the Blessing. We read the words from their CD label 'Journey.' They are written by author, Joy Davidman. Her words speak of the heart of Rivertribe's music.

Voice 2

'Imagine if for one minute you forget the self and its desires and its rights. You give a small part of your life away. In return you get this wonderful light in the heart for a minute. What if the light never went out? What if it spread, got stronger, and filled your whole being forever? This is what Jesus told us to try for. The full fire of God's love. This is what we were put into the world to find. And when we see the world clearly, it helps us to find it.'

Voice 2

The writer and producer of today's programme was Marina Santee. The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom. Computer users can hear our programmes, read our scripts and see our wordbook on our website at www.radio.english.net. This programme is called 'Mastering the Digeridoo'.

Voice 1

We love to hear comments and questions from our listeners. You can reach us by email. Our address is radio @ english . net. Thank you for joining us in today's Spotlight programme. Goodbye.