Berimbau

This instrument was brought to Brazil from Angola with the Capoeira music of the Bantú slaves. It is the instrument used to accompany this music. The Capoeira dance resembles the sparring in a martial art. Although it is like a depiction of a confrontation, its gracefulness resembles that of a ballet. Capoeira further evolved in the northern part of Brazil-in Bahia and other regions in the state of Pernambuco. The instrument is made of a wooden arc-from a wood called Biriba with a wire attached from end to end of the wooden arc forming the shape of an archer's bow. A round gourd with an opening on one side is attached to the lower, outside end of the bow, approximately 20 to 25 centimeters from the bottom, with a piece of cord. This functions as a resonator. The cord it is attached with is also tied around the wire. You pull on the cord to bend the pitch produced by the wire string. You alter the tone by pulling the gourd against and away from your body, thereby opening and closing the hole. The other three components are a coin, stone, or metal washer, which is held against the wire, a small stick to strike the wire and a small caxixi. Although originally reserved strictly for use in Capoeira, it has found its way into other popular folk styles as well as other contemporary idioms. Some musicians have even recorded it as a solo instrument.