Mago David Blanasi DB45
My Comments: Most didgeridoo enthusiasts are familiar with the yidaki and its place in the culture of northeastern Arnhem Land. But fewer people have heard of the Mago. The Mago is a variant of the didgeridoo, made and used in the western parts of Arnhem Land. The length is made for accompanying songs in one of two styles: the bunggurl style of the East or kunborrk tradition of the West. The magic of this type of instrument is that it is also possible to play other styles of playing than necessarily traditional. This is due to the very good work of the air column. This gives the instrument a full and harmonically rich sound, while still retaining an organic and "termite-like" timbre. I draw your attention to the fact that these instruments are painted with ochre, natural pigments and are not varnished either inside or out. Some may have some small cracks present in the bell, but they are all playable. Keep in mind that these are "Vintages" instruments and most of them are over 40 years old!! It is a real chance to be able to obtain such instruments nowadays!
No, no, you're not dreaming! This is indeed a David Blanasi mago. This mago dates from the 1970s. Mouthpiece in blackwax sugarbag. In the 70s, David Blanasi made slightly more massive magos with a theme on each instrument, this one represents the white cockatoos, quite symbolic when you know the name of David's band, which traveled the world!! So for the future buyer, you will of course have to consider this piece of art and not play it too loudly immediately. You will have to give the mago time to regain its hygroscopicity.
David Blanasi was born in 1930 and became the undisputed master of mago. He was also a highly respected Wugularr elder and co-founder of The White Cockatoo Performing Group. David Blanasi traveled and performed worldwide for over three decades and brought mago to the national and international stage for the first time. Sadly, in 1998, David lost his long-time partner, singer Djoli Laiwonga. In August 2001, David Blanasi disappeared from his community. The circumstances of his disappearance remain a mystery...
Classification
This scale is the result of an air column/bell start ratio If we divide the diameter of the bell with that of the beginning of the air column we get a number between 1.5 and 3.5. We can classify all the didgeridoos in 4 large families. Each family groups the instruments with a similar character, simply based on the overall shape of the air column (conical/cylindrical) and on the diameter of the column (wide/narrow). The result is a simple and very reliable reading grid, making it easier to search and purchase on line.
The diameters are measured with a caliper, start of the air column after the mouthpîece. This ratio is very reliable for a didg having a air column with a 'smooth' internal work, in the case of a hollowed eucalyptus instrument it give an approach of the instrumental character.
Mago
The Mago is another kind of "traditional" didgeridoo, made of eucalyptus and termite.
The Mago, but what is it?
The mago is a type of traditional didgeridoo from western Arnhem Land. The word is used by members of various language groups whose territory extends from the Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) community in the west, to the River Blythe east of Maningrida and south towards Katherine.
The word mago has become a generic name commonly used for instruments played in the region. Moreover, the use of the word extends beyond the western region of Arnhem Land, as many didgeridoo enthusiasts use the term to refer to traditional didgeridoos made outside of northeastern Arnhem Land—that is, all didgeridoos made in the Top End that are not yidaki.
The name mago is commonly used to identify traditional instruments with shorter, cylindrical shapes.
The characteristics of this style are the drone, devoid of any "toot" or trumpet-like sound, and the melodic harmonic generated by the human voice playing over the drone. Furthermore, mago-type didgeridoos tend to have an open internal column which, combined with the use of the player's vocal cords, lends a melodic character to their sound.
Like other types of traditional instruments, the mago is used as rhythmic accompaniment for traditional songs.
Maintenance: As with yidakis, the mago requires regular, preventative maintenance to last a lifetime! To avoid cracks and allow the wood time to recover its proper moisture content, we recommend referring to the advice and accessories pages.