Musical Mavericks - October 2022 - Anna Stanley
Anna’s playing can be heard on my latest piece; called ‘The Tree of Life’. The piece, comprised of three movements is a musical interpretation of the energy of life. With busy schedules it was great to finally catch up with Anna and ask her about this unique and beautiful instrument; the didgeridoo!
Anna thank you for joining me today. The didgeridoo is an instrument many people won’t be familiar with. What drew you to the didgeridoo and do you remember the moment (I certainly do with the guitar) where you thought “I want to play this”?
Anna. Other than hitting sticks together digeridoo is one of the oldest instruments in the world. It was used by aboriginals especially for ritualistic purposes. Supposedly women were not allowed to play it, and the myth was spread that their first born would die if they did. The superstitious side of me hopes that is obviously not true and the other side of me relishes playing something that women weren't allowed to play.
I first saw a digeridoo when I was about 5. It was at a 'hippie' camp and a woman was playing it, she looked very mighty and had long flowing ginger hair. I imagined she resembled Boudica. The sounds from her didge's were intense, powerful and moving and unlike anything I had ever heard. I wanted to be like her in a way, so she definitely inspired to have a go at blowing on them. I wasn't able to make much of a sound until I was much older.
Q. In the Tree of Life, the idea was that the instrument was the bedrock of the work and representing the divine sound of life that permeates everything. What is its meaning to you as an instrument and how did/does it’s Aboriginal history inform how you view/approach the instrument?
Anna. It is not a coincidence that the didgeridoo was used in rituals by the Aboriginal tribes. For the player, especially through circular breathing, it is easy to get into a trance and be very embodied. For listeners, although it is like marmite, many also find they go into a trance. Especially when it is live, not recorded. The vibrations are very strong and the sound evocative, primordial, archetypal. It almost feels like the didge plays you as much as you play it, and sometimes, like you are channelling something through the didge, a life force or energy.
When I read philosophy, I loved the metaphysics of Schopenhauer. He saw music as manifesting the ultimate reality.
I see the sound of digeridoo as doing that too. I can imagine the Aboriginals may have felt something similar, if not intellectually then certainly an intuitive spiritual knowing. I do think it is the holiest of instruments for these reasons. In some ways, I don't even really view it as an instrument. I don't identify as a musician because I play the digeridoo. It is something that creates sound and vibration. I know all instruments do that. But the sound of the didge is unique. It doesn't create music. It channels something. Metal instruments sound so artificial and tinny compared to the natural wood of the didge. Its sounds are primitive. For some people it's provocative, sometimes intensely so. It can be quite releasing, potentially involuntarily. I have seen a lot of people crying in a cathartic way from listening to it (I hope, haha).
I like how depending on the tree the wood is from, they all have their own sound. It makes me think of that scene in Harry Potter where people get their Wand. When looking to purchase a didge, it is like the didge chooses the owner.
Q. Is there a type of calm or almost meditative effect of playing this instrument?
Anna. When you play for long enough because of the breathing, you can enter a trance like state. It is definitely meditative, as it is a very present embodied experience. I am not usually thinking with words. I do usually play it when I need to decompress or have been feeling angry-it is very cathartic in this way. I use it to let go of negative emotions. That is why I wouldn't really 'perform' in a band, it wouldn't be in the vein in which I play the didge. Also, because I usually play when emotional, it is quite an emotional and soul baring thing. I wouldn't expose that to just anyone. I think when I play the 'best', is when I am at one with the didgeridoo, as cliche as that sounds. Although I imagine proper musicians might say that too.
Q. Can you describe to us the technique of circular breathing? How long does it take to master and what does the technique evolve?
Anna. Circular breathing is how didgeridoo players play for more time than a breath. You can do it for hours. So it sounds like there is no space between breathing so there is continuous sound. Basically you play a note by blowing a reserve of air out from your cheeks while breathing in through your nose. It sounds really simple. But it isn't!
I played the didge for 30 seconds at a time for about 10 years before being able to circular breath. But in terms of routinely trying to learn the technique, it took me about 2-3 weeks of regular practice before I did actually crack it.
Because it is an embodied experience, learning how to circular breath wasn't actually done through the intellectual 'talking' mind, if anything that distracted from the bodily muscular movement involved. Even now, I wouldn't be able to talk myself into do it, it's just a muscle memory thing I guess.
On a side note, the only 2 times in my life I have benefited from being able to circular breath outside playing the
didge are:
Being able to blow through a straw and make bubbles in lemonade that go on continuously
Blowing up an air mattress camping with no machine available-definitely quicker than taking breaths constantly!
Q. Are there any physical benefits to playing for example with breathing deeply.
Anna. You don't actually breathe deeply. If you are then you don't need to. It is all about the reserves of air in your cheeks that you use to circular breath. I remember a teacher telling me, you should always have a reservoir of air in your lungs, it should not be straining.
Supposedly it is meant to help people who snore as it relaxes the throat muscles or something (which I don't). I think it is relaxing so it is good for the nervous system, releasing stress, better sleep. I also think it tightens your face muscles so I suppose it is like a face lift...
Q. You have a wide taste in music, what are the last five pieces we would find on your Spotify/Apple playlist?
Anna. Four Tet , Lush
The Books, A true story of a story of true love
Kae Tempest, I saw light
Beth Hirsh, All I need
Branko, Mr Carmack, Nonku Phiri, Let me go
The Tree of Life is released Saturday the 15th on Spotify, Apple Music and all good streaming services. CD’s with signed postcards are available to order direct, from the 29/10.
