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INTRODUCTION
In Afro-Bahian culture, music is an central part of everyday
life. The music of capoeira angola thus reflects the
experiences of ordinary, everyday people and a long history
of suppression and neglect. Capoeira songs often contain subtle
warnings, irony, and veiled references to Catholicism and Afro-Brazilian
religion.
In the capoeira circle (or roda), there are three main
song types: the ladainha,
the chulas, and the corrido.
Others include quadras, despedidas,
and cantigas de sotaque ("songs of challenge").
The traditional capoeira angola orchestra, or batería,
now usually comprises of eight instruments, consisting of three
berimbaus, two pandeiros (tambourines), a
reco-reco (scratcher), an agogo (double bell),
and an atabaque (barrel drum). The eight instruments
provide a musical context for the game.
Historically, other instruments have also been used, including
the adufe (a square pandeiro), the xekeré
(gourd shaker with beads), chocalho (metal rattle),
violão (guitar), apito (whistle), cuica
(friction drum), ganza (shaker) and even castanets.
The strong role played by music in Bahian capoeira may have
also helped the practice survive as an innocent pastime, unlike
other parts of Brazil, where it was all but lost in the early
twentieth century.
Capoeira music is just one of many types of music found in the
region. Other forms include maculelê, puxada
da rede, afoxé, batuque, samba-reggae
(aka batucada or blocos afros), candomblé,
and a wide variety of samba styles—all of which
mix together an influence each other. Samba songs sometimes
become capoeira songs (such as "Vou ver Juliana" and
"Marinheiro só," both staples in samba-de-roda).
Capoeira songs are likewise quoted in pop songs (such as "Lapinha"
by Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66, which borrows heavily from
a quadra about Besouro Mangangá).
Capoeira music thus remains connected to the culture of the
people, its traditions, and aspects of personal style—just
like the game itself.
These pages are to help interested readers become better acquainted
with the music of capoeira, and the culture that it represents. |
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Introduction