Saguaro Land is a series from The Show looking at the Sonoran Desert — the lushest, hottest desert in the world that happens to be our home.
In the newest installment, The Show learned about using the desert to make music.
Years ago, Kyle Bert was given a didgeridoo for Christmas. It’s a long, thin wind instrument made out of wood, with a mouthpiece and a bell.
Bert had no idea how to play it, but had fallen in love with the sound. Unfortunately, his dog broke the didgeridoo. So, Bert decided to try to figure out how to make them. He found out agave stalks can be used, and actually have a really good sound.
That was all more than two decades ago. Bert, who grew up in Tucson, is the owner of Desert Mountain Didgeridoos. He estimates he’s made around 700 instruments in the 25 years he’s been doing it. He joined The Show, with some didgeridoos, to chat about what makes the agave stalk so good for this instrument.
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The Show's Amy Silverman reflects on the Saguaro Land series, and the plight of the iconic Sonoran Desert cactus that is its namesake.
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The Show is exploring the desert season by season in the series Saguaro Land — through music, art, literature, food, drink, flora and fauna — and now through design.
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Journalist Caroline Tracey has watched as Instagram and other platforms have turned a spotlight on the desert in ways she finds both refreshing — and troubling. She spoke to The Show more about the trend and what it means.
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Tempe artist Safwat Saleem used baking as a metaphor for describing how he and his young daughter are learning to thrive in the Sonoran Desert.
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The Show has spent the last year exploring the Sonoran Desert. As we head into the final season — winter — we’re sharing a collection of essays about life here in what we’ve dubbed Saguaro Land. Here’s local writer Julia Fournier with a story about being deserted in the desert.