iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

yidakiroma · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 26 Location: Roma, Italy

Hi,
this post only for "restart" this topic, and discussion about this beautiful style of playing.
But......anyone is interested in NEAL style on this forum?

kdidj · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 255

Always! It seems that currently there is an increased awareness in all things WAL which is a great thing in my opinion as the focus has been on NEAL and the yidaki for quite some time. Of course interest in the yidaki is still there and I'm sure discussions on the most complex of playing styles will continue!

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martin · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 101

Absolutely agree with Kyle here.
I am interested in all styles. My main study is in NEAL and in my personal style.
Fantastic though that WAL is having a comeback. The more we learn the more we learn and that is great in many ways. Very Happy

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flyangler18 · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 394

I'm always interested in perfecting my NEAL technique! I'm actually quite excited that there is an emergent interest in WAL instruments and techniques. There's a real shortage of good mago here in the States.

Yidaki and NEAL had definitely dominated the scene as far as trad instruments go, and that doesn't seem to be waning. The complexity of this playing style definitely makes for some great conversation Smile

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ididjaustralia · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:16 am Post subject:

I'm interested in everything Very Happy

Just an aside however... it seems that NEAL style if we want to call it that has developed and innovated over the past several decades if we were to listen to old field recordings and compare them to the playing styles and rhythmic patternings used by today's (younger) generation.

In contrast, if we were to do the same thing with WAL, it would appear that WAL is in decline. I've heard a number of WAL players now including those who perform in ceremony in north-central and Western Arnhem Land, and the feeling I got and still get is that whilst technically excellent, the rhythmic patterning and virtuoso flavour of yesteryears is no longer to be found. It could well be that I've not heard enough WAL players from today's generation. It could be that the master players found on old field recordings were exemplary musicians, genuises in their chosen endeavour.

If it is a case of WAL being in decline, I'd like to focus more attention on nurturing and promotion artisans from that area - which is why I chose Darryl as artist-in-residence.

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flyangler18 · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 394

Now you've gone and got me thinking, Guan!

I've always gotten the sense that 'serious' performance of Gunborg was more structured and less improvisational than NEAL. The rhythmic patternings seem to be more codified and the phrasing more exact, so I hear less virtuosity coming through.

I could be completely off in my assessments, however.

Jason

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ididjaustralia · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:53 am Post subject:

I reckon you're right there Jason. What I mean to say is that I find old field recordings of WAL style a lot of interesting to listen to. Maybe that's because of David Blanasi who was recorded by a number of different musicologists and researchers. Blanasi was pure genius I reckon. But there were also outstanding players at Oenpelli and Goulburn Island as found on those field recordings (Moyle and Berndt come to mind). The rhythmic patternings I hear on those recordings are very interesting even if they are somewhat regular and predictable, as opposed to NEAL style which has less 'predictability' about it.

I don't know if my observations are correct, that there is an apparent generational deterioration in WAL compared to invigoration in NEAL as far as didgeridoo is concerned. What say everyone else?

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flyangler18 · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 394

Quote:

What I mean to say is that I find old field recordings of WAL style a lot of interesting to listen to. Maybe that's because of David Blanasi who was recorded by a number of different musicologists and researchers. Blanasi was pure genius I reckon.

I think there is some truth here, Guan. Likewise, I prefer listening to the older field recordings of WAL style- there is a 'rougher' quality to the sound of mago that I prefer to more current renditions. Comparatively, more current recordings of mago sound 'cleaner' and less gruff, more 'twang'-- which I simply find less appealing. Don't know if this just indicates a generational deterioration or not.

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martin · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 101

that Blanasi was pure genius I am absolutely in agreement. At the same time, after listening to a lot of newer WAL playing and then listening to
old 60's Blanasi recordings gave me the impression of hearing (Blanasi) something really fresh and innovative. As such the time sequence is a bit backwards and agrees with what you are saying Guan.

It is great that you could have Darryl as artist in residence.
For me in the bigger picture of Didgeridoo in Arnhem Land, WAL and NEAL playing are complementary and balance each other in a beautiful way.

Cheers!
Martin

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kdidj · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 255

I agree with your thoughts Martin. One thing that is interesting is that Blanasi's playing in later years more resembled the current stock without the improvisation and tricky time signatures of his earlier work. Of course he was getting old and maybe not as bothered, but maybe this influenced the up and coming players, such as Darryl, more than the older compositions which the young cats may not have heard! Just a thought.

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yidakiroma · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 26 Location: Roma, Italy

Ok guys! I've read your comment and i'm happy to see that the interest on NEAL style is still live. The WAL style of playing interest me only in "virtual" way....because my practice is more concentrated on NEAL style today.

ididjaustralia · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:00 pm Post subject:

kdidj wrote:

I agree with your thoughts Martin. One thing that is interesting is that Blanasi's playing in later years more resembled the current stock without the improvisation and tricky time signatures of his earlier work. Of course he was getting old and maybe not as bothered, but maybe this influenced the up and coming players, such as Darryl, more than the older compositions which the young cats may not have heard! Just a thought.

Yes, very interesting stuff.

I may hazard a guess that the migration of WAL people westward towards Darwin and other major centres (Katherine, Mainoru etc.) has had a detrimental effect. Part of the reason why Maningrida was established was to stem this flow of people away from country. There are many accounts today among Ramingining families of footwalk adventures all the way to Darwin, traversing hundreds of kilometres of bush and foreign territory to see the Balanda and their fancy material culture.

The draw of alcohol and the attraction of Balanda culture cannot be over-stated. In Maningrida today, I repeatedly hear that young people are not learning ceremony. Listen to the new Maningrida Traditional Music Compilation and you'll see that they're all old fellas on there.

NEAL on the other hand may be buffered from 'drift' due to sheer remoteness though the establishment of the mining town Nhulunbuy would no doubt have had some sort of impact. But with Yothu Yindi's influence, maybe every kid wanted to be play like M*lk*y' and to be a superstar!

I'm just guessing here...

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GGW · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 66 Location: Canada

hi there

Quote:

this post only for "restart" this topic, and discussion about this beautiful style of playing.
But......anyone is interested in NEAL style on this forum?

Hey Yidakiroma im right here with you ,im all into NEAL style and not finished collecting the yidaki im looking for Smile

I just bought a zoom h4 digital recorder and anytime you want to share tips it will be a pleasure.

GGW

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flyangler18 · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 394

I'm into all styles!

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yidakiroma · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 26 Location: Roma, Italy

GGW wrote:

hi there

Hey Yidakiroma im right here with you ,im all into NEAL style and not finished collecting the yidaki im looking for Smile

I just bought a zoom h4 digital recorder and anytime you want to share tips it will be a pleasure.

GGW

Ok GGW....!
I'm happy to read your post.... as soon as possible I write new comment and questions about this great style of playing!