Maracatu de Baque Virado is made up of many different
rhythms – and every maracatu group has its own names, emphases,
tempos and variations for each.
What they do have in common, however, is the ability to draw both
players and listeners into another world where 'earth-shaking',
'soulful' and 'heavy' are the kind of words that have to be used when
trying to give a description.
There is a popular phrase that sums it up well: "Maracatu é trovão!" / "Maracatu is thunder!"
A typical maracatu group includes both drummers and dancers, and there are usually four main instruments:
the Gonguê
-
The Gonguê comes from the Afrian ngonge. It marks a set pattern
that is instantly recognisable and which the other drummers use to stay
in time. Typically made of iron or steel, it is about 15cm long, 6cm
wide and 3cm deep. It is held in one hand and hit with a wooden beater
or stick.
the Caixa -
The caixa, also known as the 'caixa de guerra', is a light snare drum.
It is often secured round the waist with a strap or worn hanging from
the shoulder. Patterns can alter depending on what beat the alfaia is
playing. The caixa is used to start many maracatu songs (toadas).
the Abê -
The abê (or shekerê) is a relatively recent addition to
maracatu instrumentation. The miçangas (beads) threaded around
the cabaça (gourd) hit against it giving a distinctive and loud
'shaker' sound that also helps mark time.
N.B. The mineiro (or ganzá) is used by many groups and is
considered the more traditional of the two. It consists of a large
aluminium tube filled with seeds or metal shot and is usually played by
holding the tube at either end and shaking it away from and towards the
body (or from left and right). It has the same function as the
abê.
the Alfaia -
The alfaia drum, also known as the Bombo, Zabumba. The thunderous and unmistakeable Maracatu drum.
There are three different types:
Marcante - the largest (e.g 22"-26") and deepest drum, which marks out the basic beat of the song
Meião - a medium-sized drum (e.g. 19" - 23") that also plays the basic beat but is sometimes called on to vary. Repique - the smallest of the three (e.g. 17" - 21") and nearly always plays a virado (swung triplets) rhythm on top of the main beat.
These names and the parts each instrument plays are what
we use in Maracatu Estrela do Norte, but they may vary from group to
group in Recife and around the world.
