ED DRURY IN CONCERT: DIDJERIDU September 18, 2004, 2:00 p.m. Free Admission Shute Park Library, 775 SE 10th Avenue, Hillsboro

The Shute Park Library in partnership with the Glenn and Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center is proud to present Didjeridu artist extraordinaire, Ed Drury in concert.

(PRWEB) September 4, 2004 -- Ed Drury has been studying the Didjeridu since 1986 and has released fourteen CDs, composed and recorded music for television and film. His performances include cafes, nightclubs, music festivals, universities and special events like the Portland Marathon. He has studied not only Aboriginal music but also language and culture. Ed brings a sense of profound respect to his presentations as well as dispelling many of the common myths about Aboriginal culture, which he has found to be very alive and strong in many parts of Australia. Ed currently teaches the Didjeridu at the Walters Cultural Arts Center and will have classes available this fall. Hear Eds music at www.EdDrury.com

The world's oldest known musical instrument is called the YIDAKI or what Europeans call the DIDJERIDU. This instrument is a branch from a tree in which white ants (or termites) eat their way up through the center towards the sunlight keeping the outer shell solid for protection. When this branch eventually dies and falls to the ground, the aboriginal people cut the ends off creating the DIDJERIDU.

This story of the Didjeridu comes from the dreaming of the people of the Northern Territory (Austrailia). They say that YIDAKI, the warrior, was coming home from a hunt with kangaroo over his shoulder when he saw a dead branch lying on the ground. He picked it up, saw daylight coming in the other end and noticed there were a lot of little insects (which you call termites) in there. He blew through it to get rid of them and it made a sound. The warrior liked the sound that it made. He found that by breathing through his nose and out through his mouth in a circular fashion he could make rhythm and many other sounds. During his lifetime the warrior taught many other young men the circular breathing method and this simple instrument became a very popular part of their culture. The Didjeridu is used in ceremony, dance and forms of healing.
Hillsboro Public Libraries (503) 615-6500

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