didgeridoo
An Australian Aboriginal wind instrument made from a hollowed eucalyptus branch.
In Depth
The didgeridoo is one of the oldest wind instruments in the world, with origins dating back at least 1,500 years among Aboriginal Australians. It is made from a eucalyptus branch or trunk that has been naturally hollowed by termites, then cleaned out and fitted with a beeswax mouthpiece.
The instrument produces a deep, resonant drone that the player sustains using circular breathing — a technique where air is expelled from the mouth while simultaneously inhaling through the nose. Skilled players overlay rhythmic patterns, vocal sounds, and animal calls on top of the fundamental drone, creating complex textures from a single instrument.
Circular breathing — the technique used to play the didgeridoo continuously — has been adopted by jazz saxophonists like Rahsaan Roland Kirk, who could sustain a note for over 20 minutes.