Didgeridoo in the dome

I’ve always loved the idea of the dome being filled with sound, so was delighted to talk to Not Drowning Waving’s David Bridie about his experience performing a specially composed piece for Mystery of the Dome in the domed reading room in 1993. The performance was the first of the six-part Metrodome series of concerts, all performed in domed urban spaces.

‘The architecture of the domed reading room affects performing there so much, of course. My favourite aspects of the dome would have to be both the smell of books and the reverberation of sound, although the greatest challenge as a performer is trying to control the reverberation.

I remember the collaboration with ‘Froggy’ Smith and myself when we performed there; what a joy it was to be involved in and how the ambient keyboard and yidaki (or didgeridoo) piece we played worked so brilliantly in that space.  The dome is such a wonderful atmospheric space, so filled with history and words and stories.  For Victorians I think it represents a safety haven.

I’d have to say the sense of atmosphere and occasion, and hearing the yidaki filling the space were for me the greatest rewards of performing in the dome.’