| The sound of Australia in Joshua Tree's outback
By Sara Munro / Hi-Desert Star Bet you didn't know that the International Didgeridoo Festival is happening right here in your own backyard. It's true, but "What's a didgeridoo?" you ask? Not only is it really a word, it's a unique wind instrument with an eerie, hypnotic sound that conjures up the myth and legend of Australia's ancient history and people. Its mysterious, droning tones are weird and wonderful. "It was the coolest thing I had ever heard," says event organizer Grahm Doe of the time he happened upon the didgeridoo at an art show about 10 years ago. He and partner Trish Kelly were so taken by the instrument that within two years they started an import business and quit their jobs. Now they make a living by filling their lives with didgeridoos and the people who play them. They estimate that the fourth annual festival will attract approximately 1,700 "didge" lovers from around the world, who will gather at the Joshua Tree Lake and Campground for six days of sharing music, knowledge and fun during informal jam sessions, workshops and performances. "The guy who first thought of doing a festival is a friend, Peter Spoecker. He's been playing the didge for a long time before anyone knew what it was. He thought Joshua Tree would be a great place to bring musicians. So, each year we work hard to find the best players in the world and bring them here," explains Doe. This year Doe and Kelly invited Djalu' Gurruwiwi, an esteemed Aboriginal elder from the Galpu clan of Yolngu people of northern Australia, for a rare appearance teaching workshops. "People from all over the world pilgrimage to learn from him. It's very exciting for us. Most people can't afford to fly to Australia. Plus, he lives out in the bush and he is very hard to get to," explains Grahm. The organizers flew Gurruwiwi to the States with his wife and his sister, both artists and participants at the festival. Gurruwiwi runs a family business making didgeridoos in his homeland, seeking self-reliance amidst the social and economic changes confronting his people. He pursues a way to pass down the traditions to children in order to preserve their culture. "I would like to share my culture and my knowledge with everyone regardless of who they are and where they come from. This is my gesture of friendship and goodwill which I hope will lead to better understandings between Balanda (non-Aboriginal people) and Yolngu. This is my part in the Reconciliation process. In return, I hope you will gain insights into my people's life and our struggles Š I hope you will respect our law, our culture and our way of life - autonomy and independence," a message from Gurruwiwi's Web site at www.djalu.com states. With folks like Gurruwiwi participating, it becomes easy to understand Doe's perspective on the event's significance. To him, it's more than just a music festival. It's a place where people of different cultures and worlds, who share a unique common passion, come together to experience a special camaraderie. It is, he says, "a connection that didge players have with each other. People are immediately your friends, and everything builds off of that." Participants choose from a variety of didge workshops including construction methods, ceremonial use, rhythm and classes for beginners. "Everything that happens is centered around the didge. It's the common thread," says Doe. But there is a bit of variety. For example, you can take a seminar on Tuvan throat-singing, a Tibetan style chant where the singer sings two to four notes simultaneously. And an American Indian flute player will perform on Saturday. Of these non-didge inserts in the program, Doe says he likes to throw some ethnic instruments in to expose players to music they wouldn't normally hear. The Didgeridoo Festival will continue all day and into the evening today and Sunday at the Joshua Tree Lake and Campground. There is a cost for entrance, with a discount for children. Camping is full but day passes are available. Vendors will be purveying food, coffee, CDs, didgeridoos, drums, clothing, jewelry and handmade crafts.
|
