WOW! Brazilian Musical Instruments

By : NURLINDAR JALALUS SHUTI (161420108)    

Olá !!  ^_^

Whenever we talked about Brazil, we will never forget about their amazing and unique Samba – a famous, exotic dance that every part in this world recognize and their powerful martial art, Capoeira.  Both – Samba and Capoeira background music is mostly played with their awesome and unique musical instrumental to create an extremely amazing pitching combination! Most Brazilian musical instruments came from Portuguese, native Brazilian and African ancestors and still retain their original characteristic. Brazilian music also has a rich mix of European, African, and Brazilian Indigenous influences and has produced one of the most unique and diverse musical cultures in the world.

Brazilian music is full of passion, energy and enthusiasm that give the music special and unique sound. Flutes, whistles, horns and rattles were the very first music instruments used in Brazil along with some hands clapping and feet stomping. Then over last several hundred years, music instruments from various countries have influenced Brazil’s music. Now, let’s discover some of unique Brazilian music instruments!

• Berimbau

Berimbau is a musical bow that is a single-stringed instrument. Berimbau is played along with thin stick, varreta. Every part of the berimbau has its unique role in the music and the rhythm it produced. We can see this amazing instrument in all the capoeira dance performances.

• Atabaque

Atabaque is made of wood called Jacaranda from Brazil and the top is made of calfskin. To play it we must use both hand or with two drumsticks. It is used play in Brazilian rhythm such as Samba.

• Agogô       

An agogo is also one of African origin and is a single or multiple bells that is traditionally used in Samba percussion ensembles. The agogo has the highest pitch of any of the Samba percussion instruments and the oldest musical instrument used in Samba music.

• Afoxê

 

The afoxe is a traditional Brazilian Instrument and is of African origin. This afro-Brazilian musical instrument consists of a gourd (cabaca) wrapped in a net which beads or small plastic balls are threaded. To play it, we must shake this afoxe to create the unique sound.

• Reco-reco

Reco-reco is a Brazilian percussion instrument that consist of a ridged gourd or bamboo cane that is scraped with a piece of wood or metal. The friction of a stick on the grooves produces a scratching sound. Nowadays, a Reco-reco is mostly made of metal.