South American Countries

From WolfWikis

African Influenced Music in south America

http://www.bugbog.com/images/maps/south_america_map.jpg

Brazil

Samba

Samba is the most widely recognized music of Brazil and finds much of its roots in Africa, particularly Angola. Samba is known for is syncopated 2 by 4 rhythm of a main beat and a muted beat. Samba lyrics vary from politics, to love, to even sports. Samba music includes a vast amount of instruments including the surdo(bass drum), tan-tan(hand drum), and cavaco(a small string guitar) to name a few. [1]

Capoeira Accompaniment Music

Capoeira, which is an Afro-Brazilian martial art, is always performed with music. The music and instruments accompanying a Capoeira display is very unique to Brazil. It consists of call-and-response singing, characteristic of traditional African song.

Capoeira Instruments

• Berimbau

http://www.experiencemartialarts.com/sitefiles/images/berimbau.jpg

This serves as the lead instrument, setting the tempo for Capoeira. [2]

• Atabaque

http://www.experiencemartialarts.com/sitefiles/images/ATABAQUE.jpg

A large drum that accompanies the berimbau during Capoeira. [3]

• Pandeiro

http://www.experiencemartialarts.com/sitefiles/images/pandeiro.jpg

A small instrument similar to the tambourine, except the tension on the head of the drum can be adjusted, allowing varies in pitches during play. The pandeiro accompanies the Berimbau and Atabaque during Capoeira. [4]

Uruguay

Candombe

Candombe is a Two hundred year old rhythm of African origin. The African influence behind Candombe is mostly a mixture of Bantu area traditional rhythms but also comprised of non-Bantu West African nations such as Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea. The Bantu area is an area of rich culture and ethnicity, which is key to the development of Candombe's unique style. [5]

Argentina

Tango

The famous tango, a renowned style of song and dance, can find some of its origin from the slaves of South America. The dances of the Afro-Argentinian population in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, were mocked, choosing to avoid the separated aspect of the two partners and instead embraced during performance. The mocked versions of the dance was taken to brothels, eventually gaining the dance widespread popularity. The dance of the Afro-Argentinians, the milonga of the gauchos, and the habenera of European immigrants gave rise to the birth of style of song and dance today recognized as tango. The word tango originally referred to the dwelling in which blacks would gather to carryout their song and dance. [6]

Colombia

Cumbia

Cumbia is a popular style of song and dance in Colombia that is a result of the intertwining of two cultures. The dance was originally a courtship dance practiced among slaves. The dance became influenced by Spanish influence and brought this crossbreed of a musical style; a common result seen in Latin America.

Peru

Musica Criolla

Musica Criolla is coastal Peruvian style of music that is a cross between African influence and Spanish influence in Peru, as well as that of Gypsies.

African Instruments found in South America

Caxixi

http://www.threeworlds.com.au/life/components/com_phpshop/shop_image/product/percussion/caxixi.jpg

The caxixi is a hand basket instrument filled with beans, sheashells and/or pebbles. It is somewhat similar to the maraca. The instrument was once used solely to accompany the other instruments of Capoeira music but spread to become an instrument respected in its own right. [7]

Lamellaphone/Mbira

[[8]]

The lamellaphone or Mbira is an African hand piano found throughout South America. It has a set of metal tongues attached to a box to be plucked by the fingers. This instrument is traditionally handmade and not too difficult to construct.

Annotated Bibliography

[9] This site proved helpful in determining the origins of tango as well as the very word itself. As a document of the Latin American Folk Institute, the information provided on tango is highly credible.

[10] This particular site helped familiarize me a bit more upon the particular uses of the instruments in regard to Capoeira.

[11] This site provided an in depth analysis of the caxixi and even its musical connotations.

[12] Although I had previous knowledge of the lamellaphone, this site proved helpful in finding the actual African names for the instrument.

[13] Candombe.com provided me with diverse knowledge upon candombe and the influences that brought it about.

[14] Wikipedia helped fill in information and added some finishing touches of information to my wiki page.

[15] Youtube provides visual representation to the styles and instruments presented in my wiki page.