| Name and Country |
Do you prefer to play contemporary or traditional styles on the didgeridoo? |
Do you prefer to listen to contemporary or traditional styles on the didgeridoo? |
What is the difference between contemporary and traditional style playing? |
| Adam from USA |
Can not play |
Traditional |
I think the traditional is a little more slower paced |
| Adrian from Australia |
Both |
Both |
Traditional styles is used for ceremony and has more meaning. contemporary can be anything |
| Anonymous |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Not sure |
| Alex from Australia |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I don't know that much about didgeridoo music and I haven't researched much about the different styles that are being expressed through this instrument I think traditional has a more freestyle approach in how its played less structured maybe even a certain type of rhythmic pattern as well contemporary on the other hand I think would be more experimental in the type of sounds and rhythms produced maybe also a little bit more structured and made to blend into other genres of music. I could be wrong with all this as I just haven't researched the styles. There's an essence or sense of spirit missing from contemporary playing but very much alive in the traditional style. |
| Alex from USA |
Contemporary |
Traditional |
Traditional playing is more reliant on resonance and a droning main melody. The contemporary versions use faster more upbeat changes in rhythm and pace. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary involves new techniques such as beat-boxing while traditional playing involved more constant legato sounds. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I guess I don't really know what contemporary style is--everything I hear sounds to me like one continuous sweep. |
| Andrew from United Kingdom |
Both |
Contemporary |
Contemporary is modern style so closer to western music in beat style etc. Traditional is usually slower and more linked to storytelling |
| Andrew Hodge from Canada |
Contemporary |
Both |
Contemporary is new; new sounds beats styles of play. Traditional is more ceremonial |
| Anne Bussell from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
I don't know |
| Ata from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Trance and techno beats are contemporary |
| Bill from USA |
Traditional |
Both |
The style of music as well as the didgeridoo itself. The traditional styles as I understand come from the NE and West Arnhemland. Most of the music is used in ceremonies. Contemporary is much more modern and has many different changing styles and is often played with other musicians. |
| Brian Mazurski from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I don't know |
| Brian from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Don't know yet on the Didj? |
| Carlos Gandara from USA |
Contemporary |
Contemporary |
Sounds style aggressiveness faster rhythm |
| Chagry Akoglu from Turkey |
Both |
Both |
Some of them use for beat boxing or meditation but the traditional style is religious. |
| Christian from Germany |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I don't know |
| Christopher from USA |
Traditional |
Both |
Not really sure but contemporary style probably uses electronic enhancement |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
No idea |
| Anonymous |
Traditional |
Both |
Tempo |
| Anonymous |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Don't know |
| Anonymous |
Contemporary |
Both |
Beat timings meter and various flourishes either intended to mimic animals or other. |
| David Pau from Argentina |
Traditional |
Traditional |
The sound and rhythm are different. |
| Debra Derrick from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
The music the tempo. |
| Derek from Ireland |
Contemporary |
Both |
Not an expert on it but to me traditional playing is more of a constant rhythm often with fast rhythms. |
| Don from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't know... yet. |
| Doug from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Sorry I don't know |
| Doug from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Beats tempos styles... vs Noises & animal sounds |
| Douglas from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
One is old the other is new. |
| Elad from Israel |
Traditional |
Traditional |
The didge made of the symbolic of the didge and the sound. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
No idea |
| Elzo from Netherlands |
Both |
Both |
The biggest difference are the rhythms. In general Traditional Aboriginal techniques are based on pulsed accents effected through tongue throat and diaphragm manipulations. |
| Eric from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Don't know |
| Erik from Sweden |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Don't know just started. And what I do or try I'd call traditional... |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Both |
Sounds different |
| Anonymous from Brazil |
Both |
Both |
From what I know traditional style implies a range of rhythms that are used in ceremonies of aboriginal communities; along with these rhythms the didgeridoo players try to emulate nature sounds. The contemporary style comprehends a mixture with western rhythms and other forms of sound making such as beat boxing. |
| Fred Ashplant from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
It seems to me that the traditional style features repetitive percussive patterns and the use of tongue pops and retro-tongue. It is often rather up temp. Contemporary seems to use more vocals and rhythmic figures that can combine with the playing of other instruments such as flute drums guitars or pitched instruments. |
| Grant from Australia |
Both |
Both |
The lack of modern accompanying instruments when it comes to the traditional music |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
I am not really sure the difference but I own several cd's that I go to sleep with the way I see it this music needs to be heard not just australian audience I actually when spinning at a show I broke up the mix with overlaid didj sequence over techno beat my idea sounded hot |
| Holden from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Howard Dempsey from Australia |
Both |
Both |
Double beat sounds traditional |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Both |
Not sure maybe the player? traditional style is mastered and made beautiful by real aboriginals and contemporary is maybe played by non-aboriginals who will never be as great as the original masters. |
| James from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary is new school and really has no limitations and traditional is old school and has dingo barks and bird sounds. |
| James from United Kingdom |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary is modern stuff eg Dr. Didj. Traditional speaks for itself. |
| Jaroslav Novak from Czech Republic |
Both |
Both |
Traditional- I have a feeling that sometimes the rhythm makes the very short break in drown I can hear there more natural sounds. Its more simple but its something more hidden behind.. Aimed on dynamical performance sometimes very hard to catch up all sound coming out. Sometimes a bit chaos. My favourite contemporary player is listed above. |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary uses other instruments also. |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
No idea. |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Traditional |
Contemporary type of playing is with beats and faster tempos. Traditional type of playing I think is more animal noises and earthy tones |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary sounds more formal |
| Anonymous from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I am not sure. |
| John Kelley from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Contemporary style is like a free form of playing where there is no certain style but traditional is when you are playing the in a certain style and with notes. |
| Jose from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I have no idea but I would assume that traditional style s the one the the ancient tribes as well as modern ones still use in their rituals. |
| Joseph Carringer from USA |
Both |
Contemporary |
Contemporary sets the didgeridoo to more modern forms of music while traditional playing is set to timeless aboriginal songs and stories with only indigenous instruments |
| Karen from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
Rhythm |
| Karl from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
Don't know yet. |
| Kemal from Turkey |
Traditional |
Traditional |
The sense... |
| Kenneth from USA |
Both |
Both |
To me the traditional style is the didge music with the steady "native" beat with or without the vocals included. The didge music that accompanies the aboriginal dancing would be traditional. Contemporary would be the 'beat-box' wobbling and didge playing accompanying other instruments. I'm afraid my entire education on the styles of didge playing has come from You-Tube where I learned about the didgeridoo learned how to make them and finally buy one and how to play. |
| Kevin from USA |
Both |
Both |
I like the traditional playing and sounds. Its relaxing but I also love it when it is mixed with other instruments. I really like it when they use traditional instruments and play upbeat modern music. |
| Krystal from Canada |
Both |
Both |
Traditional style is playing passed on songs and contemporary style is explorative. |
| Anonymous from Canada |
Do not know |
Do not know |
That I am unsure of. Here in Canada we do not have a lot of selection with regards to Aboriginal music from Australia so I have little or no knowledge on the difference. However as I learn to play the didge I am hoping I can find more out more about that. |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
??? |
| Anonymous from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
Contemporary has changed over time |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
The traditional seems to have more of the animal sounds and nature sounds than the more contemporary didgeridoo music. |
| Marcus Jones from United Kingdom |
Traditional |
Both |
I am not sure maybe changing the tone or didge beats |
| Mark from USA |
Can not play |
Traditional |
I think contemporary would be including some more modern instruments and also a definite beat. I haven't really heard too much other than a cd I have of Alan Maralung called Bunggridg Bunggridg Wangga songs which I do like._ |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary is monday music and traditional music has been passed down by elders |
| Mary Alford from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Accompanying instruments as well as the purpose of playing the instrument. |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Traditional |
Traditional is from long ago |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Both |
My understanding is that traditional didgeridoo follows the sounds and rhythms of the earth and animals - eg kangaroos bouncing. Contemporary didgeridoo involves more modern concepts and includes mixing with other music |
| Mike from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Honestly not sure. I know that the distinctive sound of a didgeridoo being played is something I've always been fascinated by. I've wanted one for a while but I never wanted to get a cheap plastic one. |
| Mirko from Germany |
Both |
Both |
I think the difference is not that big. Contemporary styles often use traditional elements and add modern rhythms |
| Morgan from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Contemporary associates non traditional instruments such as guitar |
| Naymond from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
Traditional style is during a ceremony where the didj is part of a whole. Contemporary is any other style especially when the didj is the center piece or solo instrument. |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Traditional style focuses on religious ceremonies and tells stories whereas contemporary styles can be anything that your imagination will allow |
| Nick from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Contemporary uses similar aspects of techno and electronica while traditional uses aspects of Aboriginal peoples. |
| Ossian from Australia |
Traditional |
Both |
I think it's to do with the reason for making the music the instruments used and the audience |
| Anonymous from Canada |
Can not play |
Traditional |
I do not know |
| Anonymous from United Kingdom |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary is more upbeat traditional is more melodic. |
| Peter from Australia |
Both |
Both |
Traditional style more tooting animal sounds & bush rhythms |
| Piergiorgio Fiorucci from Italy |
Both |
Both |
Different sound and rhythm |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I have no idea? |
| Richard from USA |
Both |
Both |
Ornamentation |
| Richard Wallace from USA |
Both |
Both |
Well traditional is a story and more a constant rhythm. Contemporary is more artistic. |
| Robin Pearson from Australia |
Both |
Both |
Modern didgeridoo vs indigenous yidaki rhymes |
| Rudy Hidding from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
Na |
| Sam from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I'm not sure but I have heard didgeridoo on many new age or popular music and I like it. |
| Sascha from Luxembourg |
Do not know |
Both |
For me contemporary style is playing the didj together with modern instruments e.g. percussion electrical guitar.... Traditional style is just having the didj with or without clapsticks and singings |
| Anonymous |
Traditional |
Traditional |
When you listen to a beat of only the sound of a didj it takes you into a trance..the other contemporary playing incorporates other instruments and takes away from the didj |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Both |
Don't know |
| Susan Stephenson from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't know. |
| Terry from USA |
Can not play |
Traditional |
Traditional has a greater carrying range but less variety |
| Terry Freeman from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Traditional tends to be more rhythmic with fewer overtone washes and more speed and dexterity required for most stiles. |
| Thatcher from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I don't know yet. I guess that I am only familiar with traditional. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Can not play |
Traditional |
Don't know |
| Anonymous |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Traditional comes from the heart |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
???? |
| Trevor Van Bosch from South Africa |
Both |
Contemporary |
No idea |
| Tyler from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Traditional -the didgeridoo was considered sacred and so the sounds were also.. the contemporary uses a variety of playing methods and used often for meditation |
| Anonymous from Spain |
Traditional |
Both |
The meaning of songs |
| Anonymous |
Contemporary |
Both |
LE RHYMTE |
| Warren from New Zealand |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Not sure |
