Indigenous music of Australia

Indigenous music of Australia comprises the music of the

A didgeridoo is a type of musical instrument that, according to western musicological classification, falls into the category of aerophone. It is one of the oldest instruments to date. It consists of a long tube, without finger holes, through which the player blows. It is sometimes fitted with a mouthpiece of beeswax. Didgeridoos are traditionally made of eucalyptus, but contemporary materials such as PVC piping are used. In traditional situations it is played only by men, usually as an accompaniment to ceremonial or recreational singing, or, much more rarely, as a solo instrument. Skilled players use the technique of circular breathing to achieve a continuous sound, and also employ techniques for inducing multiple harmonic resonances. Although traditionally the instrument was not widespread around the country - it was only used by Aboriginal groups in the most northerly areas - today it is commonly considered the national instrument of Aboriginal Australians and is world-renowned as a unique and iconic instrument. However, many Northern Aboriginal people continue to strenuously object to its frequent, inappropriate, use by both uninitiated Indigenous people of either gender, and by non-Indigenous Australians. Famous players include Djalu Gurruwiwi, Mark Atkins, William Barton, David Hudson, Joe Geia and Shane Underwood as well as white virtuoso Charlie McMahon.

Clapsticks

A clapstick is a type of musical instrument that, according to western musicological classification, falls into the category of percussion. Unlike drumsticks, which are generally used to strike a drum, clapsticks are intended for striking one stick on another, and people as well. They are of oval shape with paintings of snakes, lizards, birds and more. Also called 'tatty' sticks.^[6]

Gum leaf

The leaf of the Eucalyptus gum tree is used as a hand-held free reed instrument. The instrument was originally used to call birds. An example is the "Coo-ee" call seen in the opening credits of hit television series Skippy.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

Bullroarer

The bullroarer (or bull roarer) is an instrument used in

Percussive rasp similar to a Güiro or serrated club, along which the edge of a boomerang is drawn to produce a trill.^[6]

Traditional forms

Clan songs/manikay

Manikay are "clan songs" of some groups of

Early visitors and settlers published a number of transcriptions of traditional Aboriginal music.[23]^[24] The earliest transcription of Aboriginal music was by Edward Jones in London in 1793, published in Musical Curiosities, 1811. Two Eora men (of the Sydney area in New South Wales), Yemmerrawanne and Bennelong, had travelled to England with Arthur Phillip, and while they were in London gave a recital of a song in the Dharug language.^[25][26]

Northern Australia

Bunggul

The

Bunggul is often used to describe the dance component of the ceremony, while manikay refers to the songs.[15]^[18][19]

The

Kun-borrk (also spelt kunborrk and gunborg[29]) originated east of the Adelaide, southeast towards Katherine and across to just east of the Mann River and southeast almost to Rose River, then along the coastline beyond Borroloola.^[30]

Kun-borrk songs always include actual words, in contrast to other song styles of the region which may consist of sounds, and there are often brief breaks in the songs. The songs nearly always start with the didjeridu, soon followed by sticks (percussion) and vocals in that order. Kun-borrk songs from

David Blanasi is known as a master of the tradition of Kun-borrk, with his grandson Darryl Dikarrna continuing the tradition.^[29]

Wajarra

Wajarra are non-sacred songs originating in the Gurindji region of the Northern Territory and performed for fun and entertainment.^[31] During the twentieth century they spread great distances across northern and western Australia, including along the stock routes of the pastoral industry, as Aboriginal workers and their families travelled between stations. Wave Hill Station was the site of much of this exchange.^[32]

Wangga

Wangga originated near the South Alligator River. An extremely high note starts the song, accompanied by rhythmic percussion, followed by a sudden shift to a low tone. Wangga is typically performed by one or two singers with clapsticks and one didgeridoo player. The occasion is usually a circumcision ceremony or a ceremony to purify a dead person's belongings with smoke.^{[citation needed]}

Contemporary trends

A number of Indigenous Australians have achieved mainstream prominence, such as

Country music has remained particularly popular among the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for decades, as documented in Clinton Walker's seminal Buried Country. Dougie Young and Jimmy Little were pioneers and Troy Cassar-Daley is among Australia's successful contemporary Indigenous performers of country music. Aboriginal artists Kev Carmody and Archie Roach employ a combination of folk-rock and country music to sing about Aboriginal rights issues, using the song type called barnt^{[further explanation needed]}.^[33] The documentary, book and soundtrack Buried Country showcases significant Indigenous musicians from the 1940s to the 1990s.^[34]

The movie Wrong Side of the Road and its soundtrack (1981), highlighting Indigenous disadvantage in urban Australia, gave broad exposure to the bands Us Mob and No Fixed Address.

Thelma Plum released her debut album, Better in Blak, in July 2019.^[39]

• 3KND community radio station, streaming on the internet and broadcasting in Melbourne and in Brisbane.
• Aboriginal rock music
• Buried Country, film and book about Indigenous country music
• Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA), organisation promoting Aboriginal music
• National Indigenous Music Awards
• Deadly Awards
• First Nations Media Australia, national peak body for Indigenous broadcasting, media and communications
• Indigenous Australian hip hop
• Stompen Ground, Broome
• Vibe Australia

References