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Oldest Instruments: A Journey Through Time
6 Apr
Summary
- A 1580 Gasparo da Salò double bass is Australia's oldest European instrument.
- Ancient yidaki, some dating to 1890, were restored for playability.
- A circa AD1200 ocarina from Colombia is the oldest instrument found in Australia.
The oldest playable European instrument in Australia is a double bass crafted around 1580 by Gasparo da Salò. This instrument, with a distinctive patina and floral carvings, was discovered by German bassist Günter Klaus in an Italian abbey in the late 1960s. It has since been acquired by the Ukaria cultural centre and loaned to Max Bibeau of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Australia also holds ancient indigenous instruments, such as the yidaki (didgeridoo). Some yidaki, dating to about 1890, were carefully restored by the South Australian Museum for an exhibition. This involved specialized humidification to preserve the wood's moisture, allowing Yolŋgu elders to play them.
The oldest musical instrument found in Australia is an ocarina, estimated to be from circa AD1200, originating from Colombia. This ceramic vessel flute, part of a collection donated to the Queensland Museum, has undergone conservation. Its survival is attributed to its durable ceramic composition, unlike other materials that degrade over time.
