The Functions of the Didgeridoo

How it is used in music pieces the role it plays in the community

 The Didgeridoo has many functions and uses in the culture of the Aborigine Australians. It is a sacred instrument and the Aborigine of Australia believed it was invented by their Gods. It was primarily used in both open (for the whole public to enjoy) and secret ceremonies (only for specific tribe members)

Although these sacred ceremonies give the didgeridoo a specific function in Australian culture, it was also played for recreation, such as an accompaniment instrument to songs that specific clans sung for entertainment or teaching. Traditionally, the didgeridoo was used for story-telling or teaching about the natural surroundings, where the player uses the sounds made by the didgeridoo to imitate animal noises, as to aurally relate the story. 

 

 

Most importantly, the didgeridoo has present throughout the whole of Australia’s cultural history.  It appears in many Dreamtime stories (which are Aborigine mythology). One story tells us of a god who carried the didgeridoo on his back. Later, he transformed into a bird and the didgeridoo became his long tail. Another story tells of how the gods used the music of the didgeridoo to sing and dance as they created the world, then they passed on the instrument and music and dance to the humans. This made it important for the Aborigine to orally pass on traditions from generation and generation.