| 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? |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
There is truly no difference to me. I just love to play. |
| Nick from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Contemporary involves integration of didj playing and modern styles such as rock and modern instruments. Traditional involves playing didj with primitive instruments and styles as was originally intended |
| Matthew from USA |
Both |
Both |
Traditional can be played with clapsticks and singing used for formal or informal means. contemporary playing is basically non- traditional playing. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
I feel that traditional is much more then trance and house. I'm sure their are a lot more songs that are played with meaning and more heart and brings out the true sounds of the didgeridoo |
| David Morgan from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Contemporary is more freestyle whereas traditional style has established rhythms etc. and comes from a ceremonial/spiritual context. |
| Steve Mccarthy from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
The difference is in the sound and articulation |
| Perry from Canada |
Traditional |
Both |
Contemporary style leans toward techno/trance. My students love to dance to it. Traditional style tends to reflect aboriginal concept of belonging to the land and respecting the gifts of nature. Which ever style my students are impressed by the playing skills involved. |
| Jacob from Australia |
Contemporary |
Both |
Trad seems a lot more rhythmical and complex. Contemporary a bit more of a way to jam with other instruments |
| Gerald Osborne from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Don't know |
| Anonymous from Us Minor Outlying Islands |
Both |
Both |
It seems like contemporary style simply uses other more modern instruments to accompany and enhance the didj music. Traditional didj music uses basic Aboriginal percussion and voices. |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Traditional |
As far as I can see the soul and connection involved |
| Don from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
I am not experienced enough to answer properly. I do know that even though I mainly enjoy the sound the story the pictures voiced by the didjeridu are important to a tradition player. |
| Opal Hawkins from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I don't know. |
| Luke Poteete from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
I haven't played one unfortunately. |
| Margot from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Traditional sounds are much more rich. |
| Erik from USA |
Traditional |
Both |
The beat and rhythms. |
| Jenessa Sneva from USA |
Both |
Both |
I'm not sure on the exact differentiation but traditional playing has more to do with the traditional ceremonial aspect of the instruments origin often accompanying others. Contemporary styles seems to hold the conotation of newer techniques and what the context of the instrument is in modern music. |
| Jeremy from USA |
Both |
Contemporary |
Contemporary introduces more modern rhythms and beats (hip hop type). Traditional is more drones and ceremony |
| Anonymous from USA |
Both |
Both |
Duh |
| Anonymous from Australia |
Can not play |
Traditional |
Contemporary seems to use more beat box sounds where as traditional is more droning and fluid. |
| Annette from Chile |
Can not play |
Both |
I am still not very informed... |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Both |
I have no idea |
| Thomas from Germany |
Can not play |
Traditional |
I think the difference between contemporary and traditional style is the use of different Breathing Techniques |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I am really not sure. I would guess that traditional would be as it is played by Aborigines with the drone and animal noise that is associated with the playing. Contemporary would probably be linked with other instruments such as the guitar piano etc. |
| Philip from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary integrates traditional techniques and philosophy with musical styles from outside Aboriginal cultures (e.g. western pop "New Age" etc.) |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Both |
I would assume that traditional style would be the way that the didgeridoo has always been played and with the other traditional Aboriginal instruments. Contemporary playing would add non-traditional instruments and patterns of playing |
| Michael Lewis from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Contemporary is more up beat and fun whereas traditional is more rhythmic and spiritual. |
| Fiona from New Zealand |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Not sure |
| Anonymous from Austria |
Do not know |
Both |
Don't know |
| Johan M |
Traditional |
Both |
Contemporary playing is when a didgeridoo isn't played in a traditionally way. You would properly find that many "white" Didge players will play contemporary and most of the elderly aboriginals would play it in a traditional way |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
In my limited understanding I know that there are certain totems such as blowfly that are emulated. I don't try to produce those sounds as I wasn't trained shamanically to work with that totem. |
| Angie from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Sadly I do not know. |
| Patrice from France |
Both |
Both |
I think that contemporary style is introducing more beatbox and overtones... Rhythms and tunes are more adapted to be associated with other instruments (drums guitars piano saxophone etc...). Contemporary style is more looking for loud and clear sound with a lot of harmonics and low pressure |
| Peg Adams from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Joaquim Maricio from Portugal |
Both |
Traditional |
The contemporary way has no formal rules although it may seem like that to the untrained. The traditional style has a lot of rules that one must follow. |
| Mark Witt from USA |
Both |
Both |
Traditional style playing may include native animal sounds whereas contemporary is more free style play incorporating timbers of any kind. |
| Tom from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Don Chasse Jr from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Oops no idea I thought it had to do with the material the instrument was made out of. now I'm thinking maybe the traditional style focuses on the calls while traditional focuses on the musical drone. |
| Donald from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Traditional uses rhythms born of each tribes culture. Contemporary does not uses these rhythms. |
| Kevin from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary is more like free style playing. |
| Andrew Zwack from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I do not really know |
| Pj from USA |
Both |
Both |
Traditional styles involve a more continuous rhythmic meditative playing. Contemporary styles depend on the music you are playing along with or emulating. |
| Casey from USA |
Both |
Both |
Traditional style is more animal sounds contemporary is something similar to Xavier Rudd perhaps? |
| Russell Stewart from Canada |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Not really sure. I suspect that the traditional involves more integration of the wild;ife voice-over effects with rhythmic drones while the contemporary involves a more fast paced almost jazz-like energetic rhythm incorporating more trumpeting sounds. (am I close?) |
| Anonymous |
Contemporary |
Contemporary |
More variety and mix with other instruments. |
| Anonymous |
Traditional |
Contemporary |
El tradicional es fundamnetal la voz y en el contemporaneo es el sonido. |
| Scott from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Willibrord Arts from Netherlands |
Do not know |
Traditional |
Don't know |
| Andrew Zacchini from USA |
Both |
Both |
A persons perception |
| Carl from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Traditional is original and contemporary is modern |
| Anonymous from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Contemporary in my perception has a jazz feeling to it while tradition the rhythm has been passed to from generation to generation. |
| Dave Stein from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Rachel from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't know. |
| Anonymous from South Africa |
Both |
Both |
The more contemporary styles include faster rhythms "beatboxing" and many synthesizer like sounds. The traditional is a more trance like meditation sound with many animal noises. |
| Brenna from USA |
Do not know |
Traditional |
Ceremonial inclusion vs. music making |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
TRADITIONAL IS A SOUND PURE CONTEMPORARY IS A MIX WITH TECHNOLOGY |
| Anonymous from USA |
Both |
Contemporary |
Lots... different syllables other instruments added. |
| Adam Brousseau from Canada |
Contemporary |
Both |
Traditional style would be the complex and symbolic rhythms and patterns played on a didjeridoo passed on by word of mouth between players and people. I guess contemporary would be everything else. |
| Diego from Chile |
Both |
Both |
Traditional it |
| Denay from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know! YET! |
| Alexandra from USA |
Traditional |
Both |
Contemporary would be more modern and traditional would be the sound of a dingo in the bush |
| Dennis Sigala from USA |
Traditional |
Both |
I believe contemporary is for entertainment! as in a concert setting> or anywhere. But Traditional is for ceremonial purpose. |
| Dan from Germany |
Do not know |
Both |
Traditional is more of the dreamtime story playing contemporary is more rhythm based |
| Anonymous from New Zealand |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary uses many different types of sounds and rhythms that generally don't come from traditional styles. Also contemporary is a bi-product of traditional and therefore seeks inspiration and creativity from many different genres of music. The didgeridoo was most likely developed by the Aboriginal people as one aspect of Aboriginal music which was and still is inherently sacred to them. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Contemporary |
Contemporary |
Traditional seems to be more percussive and have more vocalization |
| Brandon Fitzgerald from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Honestly I am not 100% sure. I am the only person I know that is seriously interested in playing. Most people around me think that the didgeridoo is a joke or toy. |
| Anonymous from Germany |
Both |
Traditional |
Traditional music is playing on a Yidaki. It must have a precisely pitch and sound characteristics. While a Didgeridoo can sounds like it wants. |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Not sure |
| John from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Unknown |
| Tore Kenneth from Norway |
Contemporary |
Do not know |
Traditional is playing according to different geographical styles/rhythms/ceremonials etc. Contemporary is free playing techniques |
| Joe from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Not sure |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I wasn't able to hear traditional style playing so I can't compare. |
| Marc Primelo from USA |
Both |
Both |
Traditional adds many animal noises |
| Anonymous from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Contemporary didgeridoo holds a rhythm and is quite structured around a song form. Traditional didgeridoo focuses on the rhythm aspect of the instrument along with the cultural influences. |
| Jordan Ackerman from Canada |
Can not play |
Both |
Contemporary uses a lot of sounds that traditional doesn't use and I played with music that traditional wouldn't be played with. Traditional is usually played ceremonial and for story use and only sometimes used recreationally. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I have zero idea |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
That the contemporary is more common found and is used with more modern instruments |
| Anonymous from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
From my experience traditional seems to have more barks and animal like noises its a more spiritual journey for me and contemporary is more... composed its like something you would hear in an office waiting room. |
| Scott Rose from Australia |
Both |
Both |
Often traditional songs are structured to be used for dances and other special ceremonies. Players are taught how the songs are played and continue to play them this way. Contemporary players have the opportunity to include their own stories in what they are playing often using different techniques. As more and more non-Aboriginal players take up the didgeridoo different styles and stories may fuse with traditional styles |
| Mike from Canada |
Can not play |
Both |
Not really sure but have friends that have lived down under.......they were taught by natives.....love it when several people jam with drums |
| Robert from Canada |
Do not know |
Both |
Contemporary has tagged along other styles of music such as techno |
| Stan from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Anonymous |
Contemporary |
Both |
Tradit.:use of clapsticks and singing and more animal sounds and overtone techniques than in most contemporary styles e.g. beatbox... |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Traditional playing often accompanies song lines and dancers and helps with the narrative through descriptive sounds. Contemporary playing especially from non-aboriginal players seems to emphasize complex rhythms and effects for listening enjoyment separated from the cultural context of language and place. |
| Cameron Nelson from USA |
Traditional |
Both |
Traditional is what they have always play and contemporary is what is popular now. |
| Megan Holguin from USA |
Both |
Both |
Traditional didge playing is typically used alongside clapsticks and singing for ceremonies contemporary playing is anything that strays from the traditional styles |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't think I have ever heard professional playing |
| Per Tillisch from USA |
Contemporary |
Contemporary |
Traditional didgeridoo playing is for Aboriginal ceremonial purposes. Contemporary playing uses the sound of the didgeridoo in music for enjoyment/creative purposes or even for non-aboriginal ceremonies. |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
No idea |
| Eric Hamilton from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know really |
| Michael from USA |
Both |
Traditional |
Aboriginal rhythms seem to be more in tune with nature while contemporary often integrate rhythms that I would describe as more "beaty" Although I do not denigrate the use of a didge in contemporary music (ie. "Brother" with Celtic Aboriginal) |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I don't know--but my guess is I will enjoy Traditional! |
