Samba Music

During the twenty century, Brazil went through a social change. For Brazil, “Music is a passport to happiness.” It is a way to escape for the everyday routine. Samba, became the national rhythm. Before, Samba, Lundu and Modinha were the main Brazilian music. These dances brought the different social classes together. The Brazial elites and the lower class together became part in the history of music. Samba came later, after Lundu and Modinha. Samba was first looked, “as the stuff of lowlife rascals.” During the 1930’s samba was in its golden age.

President Getulio Vargas, transform the music of samba for political purpose. He used the radio, where samba music would play, to celebrated race mixture. Vargas did not want for Brazil to be seen as only white European people. With samba he showed the “blacked music.” This time of music is mixed race, the beats come from African American background. The lyrics came from European and black composers. Vargas use this to unified Brazil. Germany soldiers were listening to black Brazilian music. The acceptance of samba, caused for the middle class to listen to this type of music. However, they listen to the type of samba whose lyrics talked about the beauty of Brazil. One of the first solo composer/singer who sang about the beauty of Brazil was Dorival Caymmi. His music was calmer than the black Brazilian samba.

Brazil created school of samba to teach people about the history of Brazil, while at the same time learn how to dance and play the music of samba. The main purpose was for people to know more about the history of Brazil. Brazil history is connected to the rhythm use in samba. The African American beat is part of the slavery in Brazil. Lundu was first what slaves use to dance. Then later, samba became the rhythm.

Samba, uses different types of instruments. They range from drums to tambourines. These instruments area use in the Carnival. Each instrument adds a different component to the overall rhythm of samba. The material of the instruments also varied. Some are made out of wood while other or iron or steel. Playing the instrument is also different. The level they are played to. Some are played at a lower level while others are high. Some of the instruments are played with both hands, some with just one, and some use a stick or a type of clothing. In a Carnival, the location of an instrument varies. The louder once are put in the front. Some instruments, like the tambourine is use in small groups only because it’s a quite one. The Surdo is important because it helps keep the pattern of the music. This are some of the instrument use to make the fast rhythm of samba.

Repinique

It makes a high, piercing sound. It is played with a wooden stick in one hand and the hand itself. It has a smaller width than the caixa drum, but it is longer by several inches. It is carried with a strap in the shoulder.

Surdo

There are three kinds of surdos: first, second, and cutting. Surdo is the, “heartbeat of percussion samba.” It has a deep bass sound. It creates a pattern and keep the beat for the rest.

Agogo

It is made of iron and steel, it has two bells and is shaped in a U form. It makes noice when is hit with a stick against the bells.

Caixa

It has a cylindrical shape and can be played on both sides. It is either made of wood or metal. There are different kinds because they varied in sizes and timbres. It has 2 or 4 wires or cables on top of the drum. Also, it can be played in a lower level or higher level.

Tambourim

It’s a small one sided drum that can be held in the hands. It is played with a stick. Choreography is done at the same time playing the instrument.

Ganza

It is a shaker filled with beads, shells, or seeds. They come in different ways, singles, doubles, and triples.

Chocalho

A big strong shaker, it can be mad of wood or metal with steel jingles. It helps the caixas maintain the rhythm. It is use with choreography and it is played above head level.

Cuica

A drum that , the sound is, “produced by rubbing a stick inside the drum with a damp cloth, and pressing the outer head with the finger.” (2)The sound is higher the closer you press to the center.

Timba

A light weight drum that is played with both hands.

Pandeiro

A tambourine made of wood, goatskin, and five sets of jingles. It was introduce to samba as a rhythm base. It is consider a complete instrument because it has low, medium, and high timbres. "It’s a quiet instrument, that is use in small groups. The pandeiro is consider the national instrument of Brazil."

These instruments create choreography that performed in a fast movement. Most of the body movement is done from the belly and bellow. The legs move like if that person was marching, but it is done in a faster motion. The Hips move from side to side. The clothing is an important role for the performance.

Some of the modern music like, salsa, merengue, punta, and reggae have some of the basic samba beats. In today’s society samba is still a popular rhythm. It is dance in family parties, dance competitions, and of course in parades and carnivals. “Samba could exist without Carnaval, but Carnaval could not continue without samba.” They rhythm created by samba is a happy and enjoyable one. Whenever, the rhythm comes up in modern music it just makes people want to move. One of my favorite Samba song is, Magdalena by Sergio Mendez. This song shows up in family parties and makes people get up to dance. They lyrics are the once of celebration. In this song I am able to hear the instruments that are being use. At the end of the song the agogo can be heard.

Music can bring changes to society. Samba is an example of that change. It brought together class and race differences. It helped stop the separation between black and white. Also, it created fun Carnival that is still happening today. Samba is a dance that helped a country transform into a different one.

Work Cited
Vianna, Hermano. The Mystery of Samba popular music and National Identity in Brazil. The University of North Carolina P, 1999.