- Atabaque
The atabaque (Pronounced: Ah-tah-bah-keh or ki) is a tall, wooden, Afro-Brazilian
hand drum . The shell is made traditionally ofJacaranda wood fromBrazil . The head is traditionally made from calfskin. A system of ropes are intertwined around the body, connecting a metal ring near the base to the head. Wooden wedges are jammed between this ring and the body and one uses a hammer to tighten or loosen the ropes, raising or lowering the pitch of the drum.The atabaque is used in
Capoeira ,Maculelê and the Afro-Brazilian religion ofCandomblé . It is considered sacred inCandomblé .There are three types of atabaque:
Rum: Tallest with the lowest sound.Rum-Pi: Medium height, with medium sound.Lê: Shortest with the highest sound.
In
Maculelê and the rituals ofCandomblé , as many as three atabaques are used (usually one of each type), but inCapoeira , traditionally only one is used.
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