Samba Flashcards
Where is this music from?
Brazil - South America
Give a suitable time signature for Samba music
2, 4
2, 4
Which note is the emphasis normally on in Samba?
a) 1st note
b) 2nd note
c) 3rd note
d) 4th note
b) 2nd note
State something about the tempo, key and sound of Samba
Fast tempo
Major key, so…
Sounds cheery (as its a MAJOR (ha) feature in Brazilian carnivals)
What instrument does the leader if the bateria play?
The repinique (but often they also blow a whistle to signal to everyone when the next section starts)
Other than the percussion instruments, what other instruments are otfen used in Samba?
The Portuguese guitar (bright sound, 12 strings)
Keyboards
Whistles
Brass is also sometimes used - trumpets, trombones and saxophones EVEN THOUGH THEY AREN’T BRASS BOOK HOW DARE YOU
What are smaller Samba bands used to play?
For dança de salão (ballroom dance)
or to accompany samba-canção (samba songs)
What are samba schools?
Large groups of samba musicians and dancers. They’re often dominated by the percussion section (called the bateria) and can involve hundreds of players.
What is the music played by the bateria known as?
The batucada
Name the main percussion instruments
Surdo Caixa Repenique Cuica Tamborim Agogo Shakers - ganzá, caxixi, xequerê and afoxé Scrapers - reco-reco Tambouries - pandeiro
Talk about the caixa
A snare drum played with stick - it can be used to create a polyrhythm
Talk about the surdo
A large, loud, resonant bass drum played with one stick and one hand. They are in different sizes, the bateria will often use 3 sixes.
It sets the basic beat for the bateria
Talk about the agogo
A double cow bell - one high & one low (different pitches anyway) played with a stick.
Talk about the repenique
A bit like a tom-tom. It has a high pitch (TESATURA OOOO) heard above the other drums. This instrument is played by the leader (not on their own though).
This leads the call and response
Talk about the cuica
The funny sounding “monkey drum,” it’s held horizontally and has a large pitch range. There’s a wood stick in the drum, with one end attached to the drumskin. The drummer rubs the stick with a wet cloth. To vary the pitch, the drummer applies pressure on the outside of the drumskin with their other hand
Talk about the tamborim
It’s a very small drum (looking like a tambourine without bells, and probably smaller) It has a high pitch and played with a single beater
Fill the blanks:
Samba is a major feature of _________ carnivals, such as the famous ___ _______. Samba _______ compete for prizes (like Calypso bands). Their judged on their __________ performance, and also on a song that’s ________ and performed by the ______. These songs have ______ melodies, and build up with different parts _____ __ ___.
Brazilian Rio Carnival Schools Percussion Composed School Catchy Added on top
What does the surdo de primeira do?
Sets the beat
Complete the sentence:
The various percussion instruments all contribute different rhythms to a samba perfomance, combining to create…
Music with a complex texture
What are the 3 types of surdo known as?
USE YOUR SPANISH SKILLS YEAH
Surdo de primeira - 1
Surdo de segunda - 2
Surdo de terceira - 3
Talk about the 1st surdo - surdo de primeira
It has the lowest pitch.
Struck with the stick on the second beat of a bar, then dampened with the hand on the following beat.
This emphasises the second beat in a bar
Talk about the 2nd surdo - surdo de segunda
Slightly smaller with the middle pitch.
Struck on the opposite beats of the surdo de primeira, (the 1st and 3rd beats), so it follows the opposite pattern
Talk about the 3rd surdo - surdo de terceira
Smaller and has the highest pitch out of all the surdos.
It plays more complex, syncopated rhythms, which adds a swing to the rhythm produced by the surdos
In the book, it has an example of their rhythm, the other two don’t say “example” so I think this instrument’s rhythm can vary
