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Instruments
Surdos
Repinique
Caixa
Tamborim
Shaker
Cowbells
Timbal
Introduction
The repenique - high pitched light drum with a distinctive 'cracking' sound that makes it ideally suited to 'call' to the other drums engaging them in drum dialogue; surdo - large, heavyweight drum with a deeply resonating and imposing voice which is the pulsating 'heartbeat' of the ensemble; tom - tenor and bass toms are of various sizes and timbre which together strengthen mid-range melody; caixa/snare - racy, rapid, rhythmic, providing clear contrast to toms and surdos with its exacting precision. Other instruments we tinker with include the tamborim, afuche/cabasa, whistle, shakers, agogo bells, wood blocks, conga, bongo.
The Surdo is the essential foundation of all samba music. A bass drum used to mark the beat of samba music; it provides the heartbeat and energy of every "bateria", from Rio to sunny Glasgow. For samba, surdos are usually divided into 2 or 3 groups of different pitches. It is played with a beater.
The repinique (pronounced "hepineekay") is the lead drum on which all the "chamadas" (calls) and "breques" (breaks) are played. It is either played with two drumsticks or one stick with the other hand bare, playing slaps and flams. A small drum (most commonly used size is a 12" or 10") similar to the snare drum, but taller, it has a more metallic sound than the snare drum. Tuned VERY high it will "cut" over the largest ensemble and serves as the tenor drum in the bateria. It represents the descendent of the African, age old method of 'call and response.' The patterns played on the repinique complement the tamborim patterns.
Caixa literally means "box" in Portuguese. We know it as the snare drum played with two sticks and tuned high. It is worn on a strap around the waist.
Tamborim is the smallest drum of the bateria. It can be played with either a standard wood drumstick or with a flexible plastic stick called 'baqueta'. Pronounced like "tambourine" in Portuguese (the "m" is silent), this is a 6 to 8 inch finger drum that is tuned very high and struck very quick and sharp. This instrument is equivalent to the soprano. It is tune moderately high for bossa nova and very high for batucada playing.
Generally made of metal or osier; the shaker (or ganzaduplo) comes in different sizes and gives a whole variety of sounds. You can hear it in samba and samba batucada, used as a rhythmic continuum, a constant line for all other patterns to follow. The "ganzá duplo" ("double rattle") can be used to set the beat for samba or any other style of music. Its rhythm is sharp and strong, double that of the "ganzá simple." The shakers provide the metronome and drive for the entire bateria.
This is a double cowbell type instrument which is hit with a wooden stick. This instrument has its roots in African music. The standard agogo consists of two or three bells joined by a curved rod. We use the agogo to add a melodic quality to the samba rhythm. The bells can also produce a sound by squeezing them so that they strike each other.
Timbal (pronounced "cheembow") is the drum of Timbalada. Born in Bahia, it is played djembe style in the carnival parades on the streets of Salvador.
Cuica (pronounced "kweekuh") is a friction instrument with a thin stick attached to the inside of the drum head. A moistened cloth, or a piece of leather (not included) is used to rub the stick (fast or slow) and the thumb of the opposite hand applies pressure to the drum head. The closer to the centre of the drum head, the higher the pitch produced. By manipulating the pitch, the cuica player is able to achieve the famous grunting, groaning, and squeaking noises-- sounds which imitates donkeys, monkeys, birds, and laughing or crying humans.It is available in calabash, wood and seamless aluminium with either goatskin or plastic heads.
Bell that is struck by a wooden stick. The bells can also produce different tones.
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