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May 11, 2006

Stop the Jabiluka Uranium Mine

Didjeridu & Traditional Music of the Top End
The content of this page was originally created by Peter Lister

Groote Eylandt

Groote Eylandt lies on the western side of the Gulf of Carpentaria, just east of the Walker River and southeast of Blue Mud Bay. The Wanindilyaugwa of Groote Eylandt (whom speak Enindilyaugwa - often written as Anindilyakwa) have close kinship and ceremonial ties to Nunggubuyu people immediately adjacent on the mainland (around Numbulwar).

Groote Eylandt Map


G - Groote Eylandt An -Angurugu*
BI - Bickerton Island Um - Umbakumba*
IW - Isle Woodah M - Milyakburra*
WR - Walker River Al - Alyangula*
  Nu - Numbulwar*

* Aboriginal community

Alice Moyle provides some detail of the range of characteristics typical of songs and music of eastern Arnhem Land and neighbouring Groote Eylandt. Of particular interest here are the following characteristics indicative of Groote Eylandt clan song (emeba) which distinguish such clan songs from those in northeastern Arnhem Land (manikay);
 

  • "the shaky voice, a deliberate manner of vocal ornamentation used by some emeba singers;

  • the 'break' or brief cessation of the vocal part of a Groote Eylandt clan song which is signalled by certain words the singer chooses to sing (the song subject at this point may fall, swoop down, or change abruptly in some way - it was said that the 'break' gives the singer time to decide which words to sing next);

  • a short, patterned interlay between sticks and didjeridu during the 'break'; and

  • the general clatter of stick-beating percussion arising from several different sources at the same time." Such as clapsticks, sticks against another stick on the ground (often a spearthrower) and/or a stick against the didjeridu.
Groote Eylandt songs tend also to be of a much longer duration, often more than two minutes, whereas most eastern and northeastern songs are a minute or less in length (Moyle). To Groote Eylandters the didjeridu is known as yiraga.


Discography & Notes
 

Title of  Recording Track/Band Recording Location/Date Notes
Aboriginal Music from Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island, Australia, Turner Tracks 1-36 1969? Fine examples of a range of song styles and rhythms of Groote Eylandt
Songs from the Northern Territory, Vol. 4. Moyle track 7 Angurugu, Groote Eylandt, 1962 The 'break' in these songs occurs following the songman singing the lyrics referring to a sea eagle swooping for its' catch. The didjeriduist also changes the rhythm and uses the overtone at this point.
  tracks 8a,b Bagot, Darwin, 1962 This Groote singer was resident at Bagot at the time.
  track 9a, Umbakumba, Groote Eylandt, 1962 Excellent example of shaky voice singing.
  track 9b Umbakumba, Groote Eylandt, 1962 This track is unusual in that the didjeriduist continues after the vocals have finished. Moyle says that on her original recording the player remarked laughingly that he "didn't know how to make it stop".
  track 10a Angurugu, 1963 This song of seaweed describes a piece of black tree coral being dragged back and forth with the tide - the 'break' occurs when it gets buried in the sand. Superb vocals.
  track 10b Angurugu, 1963 The didjeridu is being played with the distal end in a wooden box. This is not unusual - often an old metal drum or an upright piece of tin may serve the same purpose. In the past a bailer shell was used.
  track 10d Angurugu, 1963 Here the 'break' occurs where the lyrics describe 2 planes that fly off in different directions.
  track 10e Angurugu, 1963 Didjeridu and sticks only
  track 10c Angurugu, 1963 Didjeridu and sticks only
  tracks 11a,b,c,12a,b Angurugu, 1963 Fine examples of Groote style
Aboriginal Sound Instruments, Moyle Side 2, Band 1 (c) Groote Eylandt, 1964 Didj only and "mouth sounds"
  Side 2, Band 2 (e) Groote Eylandt, 1964 Shaky voice style. The didjeriduist changes instruments about a third of the way into the song (the new one is of a different pitch). He told Moyle he did this because the mouthpiece didn't fit his mouth properly (Moyle, 1978)
Please Note: The names of performers are not included wherever it is known or suspected they may be recently deceased.


Painted bailer acquired mid-80's

 

 

Copyright 2002-2006 J.H. Burrows and Peter Lister