Maraca

For other uses, see Maraca (disambiguation).

Maracas

Maracas
Classification	idiophones
Musicians
Machito, Monguito

Robert Plant playing maracas

The sound of maracas

Maracas ( pronunciation (help·info), sometimes called rumba shakers) are a native instrument of Latin America. They are a percussion instruments (idiophones), usually played in pairs, consisting of a dried calabash or gourd shell (cuia "cue-ya") or coconut shell filled with seeds or dried beans. They may also be made of leather, wood, or plastic. ^[1]

Often one ball is pitched high and the other is pitched low. There is evidence of clay maracas used by the natives of Colombia 1500 years ago. The word maraca is thought to have come from the Tupi language of Brazil, where it is pronounced 'ma-ra-KAH'. They are known in Trinidad as shac-shacs.^[2]

Although a simple instrument, the method of playing the maracas is not obvious. The seeds must travel some distance before they hit the leather, wood, or plastic, so the player must anticipate the rhythm. One can also strike the maraca against one's hand or leg to get a different sound. Band leader Vincent Lopez hosted a radio program in the early 1950s called Shake the Maracas in which audience members competed for small prizes by playing the instrument with the orchestra.

Maracas are heard in many forms of Latin music and are also used in pop and classical music. They are considered characteristic of the music of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Jamaica and Brazil. Maracas are often played at celebrations and special events. In rock and roll, they are probably most identified with Bo Diddley, who wrote the song "Bring it to Jerome" about his maraca player, Jerome Green (who also played maracas for Chuck Berry). Maracas are also very popular with children and are commonly included in the instruments of the rhythm band.

List of notable maracas performers

• Cedric Bixler-Zavala
• Mark "Bez" Berry
• Andrew Borger
• Bobbye Hall
• Edward Harrison
• Machito^[3]
• Mako
• Ismael Rivera
• Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez
• Steve Shelley
• Moisés Torrealba
• Samuel Torres
• Glen Velez

References

1. ^ http://books.google.com/books/about/Percussion_instruments_and_their_history.html?id=a8V3Z6j2ExEC
2. ^ Mendes, John. 1986. Cote ce Cote la: Trinidad & Tobago Dictionary, Arima, Trinidad, p. 135.
3. ^ http://tocapercussion.com/media/video_lessons/grillo_maracas_playing.html Machito's way of playing maracas, as demonstrated by his son Mario

External links

• YouTube: Hector Lavoe playing maracas

This article relating to percussion instruments is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Percussion instruments Venezuelan musical instruments Latin percussion Orchestral percussion Idiophones Percussion instrument stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную? McGraw, New York Munsons Corners, New York Look at other dictionaries: maraca — ● maraca nom féminin (espagnol maraca) Instrument de musique formé d un hochet en courge, utilisé en Amérique latine. ⇒MARACA, subst. masc. Gén. au plur. Instrument à percussion d origine sud américaine consistant en une boule creuse munie d un… …   Encyclopédie Universelle maraca — [mə rä′kə] n. [Port maracá < Braz native name] a percussion instrument consisting of a dried gourd or a gourd shaped rattle with dried seeds or loose pebbles in it, that is shaken …   English World dictionary Maraca — Maraca, Insel im Atlantischen Ocean, an der Küste der brasilianischen Provinz Para, u. zu dieser gehörig; sumpfig, aber fruchtbar u. gut angebaut …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon maraca — gourd rattle used as a percussion instrument, 1813, from Portuguese, from Brazilian native name …   Etymology dictionary maracá — s. m. 1. Bálsamo do peru. 2. Cabaça seca e interiormente limpa que os indígenas do Maranhão agitam nas festas e na guerra, metendo lhe pedras ou frutos. 3.  [Brasil] Chocalho com que brincam as crianças …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa maraca — sustantivo femenino 1. Instrumento musical de percusión formado por un mango unido a una esfera hueca que tiene en su interior arena o semillas: a ritmo de maracas. Toco las maracas en un club nocturno. 2. Uso/registro: coloquial. Origen: Chile.… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española maraca — (Del guar. mbaracá). 1. f. Instrumento musical suramericano, que consiste en una calabaza con granos de maíz o chinas en su interior, para acompañar el canto. Actualmente se hace también de metal o materiales plásticos. U. m. en pl.) 2. Ant.… …   Diccionario de la lengua española maraca — ► NOUN ▪ a hollow gourd or gourd shaped container filled with small beans, stones, etc., shaken as a percussion instrument. ORIGIN Portuguese, from Tupi …   English terms dictionary Maraca — Pour le flûtiste/chef d orchestre cubain voir : Orlando Maraca Valle; pour le cours d eau brésilien, voir : Rio Maracá. Maracas traditionnels Les maracas[1] sont des instruments de percussion de la famille des idiophones …   Wikipédia en Français Maracá — Rio Maracá Pour les articles homonymes, voir Maraca. Le rio Maracá est un cours d eau brésilien qui baigne l État d Amapá. Il prend sa source et coule sur la municipalité de Mazagão. Il se jette dans le canal du Nord du delta de l Amazone …   Wikipédia en Français 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”