The Most Fascinating Human Musical Instrument
The European-Australian film Didgeridoo is the first extensive documentary film about one of the the most fascinating human instruments.
This film was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and displays the extraordinary contrast between the didgeridoo and Europe.
The Australian original residents (aborigines) developed this fascinating instrument, which is made from wood hollowed out by termites, and which for thousands of years has produced tones in different rhythmical combinations. Although originally developed by aborigines for use in rituals, the didgeridoo is now used by people all over the world for many different types of music.
In Europe many groups of people have taken up playing the didgeridoo, almost perfecting a style similar to the music of the original aborigines. One of these people is the former ski-jumper Alex Mayer, who plays this ancient instrument high over the Tyrolian Alps, accompanied by the singing of his wife.
The film Didgeridoo
With great feeling, Ahmed Radwan projects musicians and their didgeridoos in traditional Alps countryside scenes and in this way composes a documentary metaphor to the Australian home of the instrument.
The exceptional sounds of this instrument come from an unusual breathing technique, known as circular breathing. This film fully demonstrates how this works. But cultural aspects are not neglected. For instance, a Viennese High school initiated a few years ago, with great enthusiasm of teachers and students alike, the first didgeridoo lessons. Didgeridoos are also available here in Europe.
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