These instruments belong to the Ethnomusicologist Alice Moyle's 'Type A' classification of accompaniment in which the 'toot' or blown overtone is not used in the didjeridu playing styles of the area. This type of instrument is used by the clans of Western and North Central Arnhem Land and affiliated areas west and south-west of Darwin in Australia's Top End. Generally, mago are rich in harmonics, a characteristic that is emphasized in the local playing techniques.
| Ref: | FL001 |
| Maker: | Frankie Lane |
| Area: | South West Arnhem Land |
| Key: | Eb |
| Length: | 127.5 |
| M: | 3.5cm (sugarbag) |
| B: | 5cm |
| Price: | SOLD |
Beautifully stylized fish adorn this nice mago by Frankie Lane done in the 'signature style' of the Beswick based mago craftsman. The open bore, characteristic of magos from this region, creates a wonderfully rich voice that sings when played and the slight flare from the proximal to distal end provides good backpressure for an instrument in this key.
| Ref: | FL003 |
| Maker: | Frankie Lane |
| Area: | South West Arnhem Land |
| Key: | D |
| Length: | 127cm |
| M: | 2.7 - 3.2cm (sugarbag) |
| B: | 4cm |
| Price: | SOLD |
A great Beswick style mago with classic regional painted depictions of yams and local flora and fauna. A gentle flare from proximal to distal end gives this instrument a lovely profile and the largely natural bore creates a growly West Arnhem Land voice, which when coupled with the moderate backpressure allows for quick tonguings and great ease of play.
| Ref: | JW001 |
| Maker: | Joe Watson |
| Area: | North Central Arnhem Land |
| Key: | E |
| Length: | 103cm |
| M: | 3.2cm (sugarbag) |
| B: | 5cm |
| Price: | £195 |
This is a very warm mago with 'pipey' acoustics due to the smoothness and openess of the bore. It is very responsive to vocal hums and has a voice reminiscent of the field recordings from the 1960s. Joe Watson, also known as Latitj Naromi, is a mago maker from North Central Arnhem land whose instruments are often decorated in finely detailed depictions of waterlilies and, as in this case, feathered strings.
A nice little mago with all the characteristics one would expect!
| Ref: | RB001 |
| Maker: | Russel Brian |
| Area: | North Central Arnhem Land |
| Key: | F |
| Length: | 111cm |
| M: | 3 - 3.4cm (sugarbag) |
| B: | 5 - 6cm |
| Price: | £345 |
A wonderful mago here by Russel Brian with a warm and earthy voice. The open natural bore and internal characteristics result in a resonant tone which responds wonderfully to vocal accents and pressure changes. Sugarbag mouthpiece and white ochre handprints on a red ochre base.
| Ref: | HB001 |
| Maker: | Hedley Brian |
| Area: | North Central Arnhem Land |
| Key: | Eb |
| Length: | 128cm |
| M: | 3 - 3.3cm (sugarbag) |
| B: | 5 - 5.5cm |
| Price: | £345 |
This is a lovely mago with a natural bore and warm voice. It is reminiscent of the field recordings from the 1950s and 1960s and, although a mago, is responsive to a number of playing techniques including those using the 'toot' or blown overtone, which I have demonstrated in the attached sound clip. A great all rounder covered in ochre stippling and footprint designs.
| Ref: | RB002 |
| Maker: | Russel Brian |
| Area: | North Central Arnhem Land |
| Key: | G# |
| Length: | 104cm |
| M: | 3 - 3.2cm (sugarbag) |
| B: | 6 - 6.5cm |
| Price: | £345 |
Another great mago by Russel Brian with wonderful flared profile and vibrant voice. Although high pitched at G# this little stick is surprisingly easy to play and highly reponsive to West Arnhem Land playing techniques as well as more contemporary styles. It has a comfortable mouthpiece with a little sugarbag for comfort and is covered in ochre handprint decoration. A great little stick!
| Ref: | OEN001 |
| Maker: | Unknown |
| Area: | Oenpelli, Western Arnhem Land |
| Key: | F |
| Length: | 112cm |
| M: | 3.4cm |
| B: | 4cm |
| Price: | £195 |
On offer here is a vintage mago collected in Oenpelli in the1960s. This is a classic instrument made in the old ways and painted in ochre clan designs and shows evidence of constant use with a heavily patinated upper region and several small sugarbag patches. Not surprisingly, it has a vintage voice typical of the old field recordings of Western Arnhem Land didjeridu playing. Medium backpressure and an even bore result in an instrument responsive to the lilting repetitive playing style for which it was fashioned.