Didgeridoo, Dreamtime-Pipe and their player Matthias Müller

The didgeridoo, the wind-rhythm-instrument of the indigenous people of Australia, is one of the oldest musical instruments in the world. Aborigines make the didgeridoos from a eucalyptus branches that have been hollowed out by termites and are often artistically painted.

The dreamtime pipe comes from Arizona (USA) and is made from the stalk of the algave cactus. Both instruments are played using the same technique. Through a circular breathing technique and various blowing, guttural and vocalization techniques, an infinite range of acoustic possibilities are created.

These deceptively simple one-tone instruments demand as much work and discipline of the musician as the study of classical music or jazz. The listener as well discovers a one-of-a-kind sound experience. Although rhythm plays a central part in composition, the instruments sounds can range from a gentle whispering to ear-splitting shrieks creating a musical bridge between emotional sensuality to ecstatic rhythms with immense power of expression.

Everything is possible – from the archaic primal sound to the emotional stratospheric tones. Matthias Müller is among the most well known interpreters of these two instruments. This is evident in his concerts and in numerous radio and television broadcasts. It is fascinating to hear the unconventional sound and rhythm creations Matthias produces with these archaic instruments.

Before becoming fascinated by the didgeridoo, Matthias studied soundscape and created music with everyday objects. His didgeridoo music is not centered in Australian examples or an aboriginal dream world. He is inspired by tones and sounds in his everyday surroundings. His musical interpretation expresses his own mood and physical state. At the same time, Matthias is interested in sounds created by similar instruments in different cultures, such as the didgeridoo and the alphorn, on which he has focused much attention since 1997.

Müller’s musical-theatrical interests go a step further, as he seeks contacts to other musical styles and art forms, such as mixtures of his primal-sounding music with traditional western music, jazz, funk and house or in projects with visual artists and video art.

In his performances, he likes to combine the didgeridoo with the traditional Swiss alphorn, creating an extraordinary dialog between cultures.

His performances offer entertainment for the eyes as well as the ears. During concerts he often moves through the audience with the lighter dreamtime pipe and fills the room with sound from all directions, giving sound a physical expression.