Slit Drum - Botanical Gardens, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Grahame Cookie
S 33° 51.612 E 151° 13.018
56H E 335061 N 6251914
This wooden slit drum is almost next to the Government House, on Bennelong Point, in the Sydney Botanic Gardens.
Waymark Code: WMXZHT
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 03/22/2018
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Team GPSaxophone
Views: 5

While Vanuatu is known for use of the Slit Drum to give rhythm in ceremonial dances, or to transmit messages between islands, most were used horizontally on the ground. Only on the island of Ambrym were they decorated in this manner and planted vertically. They would also indicate the level of importance of the owner, by the intricacy of the patterning of the carving. [Wikipedia: Slit Drum]

This timber percussion instrument, in the Sydney Botanical Gardens was gifted by the Vanuatu Government in 1992, as evidenced by the plaque in front of it. It reads:

  This slit-drum from the island of Ambrym in Vanuatu was
presented by the Australian Friends of Vanuatu in July 1992.
It is made of Intsia bijuga (Pacific teak).
  Known on Ambrym as 'atingting', slit-drums were
traditionally used for beating dance rhythms, transmitting
messages or summoning villagers to meetings.

Visited: 1306, Sunday, 20 August, 2017

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