Bongo drum

Bongos are used in pairs, small Einfelltrommeln who are beaten with the fingers or hands. They are from Cuba. The smaller drum is called " macho " (Spanish for males ), the larger " hembra " (Spanish for females ). In Son Cubano and derived styles changes the one who plays the bongos, mentioned in Mambo or montuno part of the piece to a cowbell, Spanish cencerro. The player of the instrument is called bongocero.

History

Cuba and the living there Arawak came in the first half of the 16th century under Spanish control. For sugar cane production, the Spanish planters bought thousands of African slaves in the 17th and 18th centuries.

In the uprising against the French colonial power in 1791, many black farm workers in Haiti fled to the neighboring island of Cuba and brought their drum rhythms with the associated customs, songs and dances with it. These mixed with the passage of time with the guitar music of the Spanish peasants. A rural instrument group that was dedicated to the Son, consisted of just three players who moved with tres, guiro and bongos through the country. The skins are made of goat skin.

Construction

Bongos are two small, of different sizes and having a skin -covered drum which are connected to each other by a metal fitting. They are made ​​in the same way as barrels, which means that you glued small wooden plates together. Modern Bongos are often manufactured from fiberglass. The height of the sides is 14-17 cm, the head diameter 17-19 cm. Today there are also Bongos, which are made of plastic and / or are provided with a plastic covering.

Principle of sound production and pitch change

Bongos belong to the group of ( to be struck ) Membranophones, because the sound is produced by striking the furs. One can use the flat of your hand over the edge and beat on fur or just fur on, can play with the whole hand or just use your fingers, can with one hand steaming, while the other plays, or can attenuate a single blow immediately, by letting the batting on the fur. But you can also play with drums sticks bongos. The bongos are needed in all Cuban dances. " Martillo " (Hammer) is the basic rhythm of the bongos.

Sound quality, range, register

Bongos are mainly at Son Cubano and used in the salsa music. Since Bongos are very highly tuned and therefore sound very penetrating, they are generally used for solo voices. To accompany rather the Conga is used. The bongos are the highest sounding instruments coat of Latin American hand drums and congas with the most typical is probably the most popular percussion instruments from Cuba. Bongos are approximately in the range of a fifth tunable ( larger Bongo of g to d ', smaller from a to e'), they are to each other normally in fourth, fifth or small. Voted sixth.