Museumofworldmusic.com

Brazil

Instruments

Name: Birimbau

Type: Struck Monochord > Percussion

Region: Brazil > South America

Source: Pacific Drum Shop Vancouver, Canada.

Description: The birimbau is a single string "monochord" percussion instrument that is struck with a small shaft it is accompanied by other percussion including the “ca-xi-xi”. The origins of the birimbau are not all that clear it is likely the birimbau is of African origins. Similar musical-bows are found in Central and South Africa. In Brazil the bow as a musical instrument is not used either by the Indigenous or European peoples. The birimbau is traditionally associated with Capoeira and Candomble-de-caboclo. Capoeira is a dance and concealed martial art form that was secretly developed by the slaves in colonial times. Currently the birimbau is making its way through many different communities outside of Brazil and within the Brazilian Diaspora. The Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell De Aghuino [b. 1937 d. 2000] spoke of the birimbau in a popular song whose lyrics are co-written by Vinicius De Moraes.

Playing Techniques:
When the birimbau is played it is vertically held from floor to the face and struck with a small stick called a [baqueta]. Only two notes are produced during performance. The birimbau is played by holding it up vertically and close to the chest while the left hand changes the pitch while right hand strikes the birimbau during performance. The birimbau is used to keep the tempo of a rhythm during Capoeira and other dances. Nowadays the birimbau is adopted as a percussion instrument to which it has found its way through jazz, popular, and world music.

Anatomy of the Birimbau:
The bow is called [verga] that is made from a long branch of hard and flexible "biriba" wood [rolinia mucosa]. The estimated length of the birimbau can range from 1.2 to 1.3 meters. A steel wire called the [arame] is usually packaging wire or break cable would be wrapped around both ends creating the bow. A hollowed out, dried and cut gourd called [Cabaça] is attached to the back of the bow as an acoustic chamber. The [Pedra or Dobrão] is usually a small stone, coin or brass disc that is used to change the tone. A small shaft used to strike the birimbau is called the [Baqueta]. Since the 1950s the birimbau became more increasingly decorative with fancy patterns and multiple bright colours. This appealed to a local Bahian and Brazilian taste; current makers do apply this trend to a tourist based market. Professional quality birimbau are often plain.

The Caxixi: The caxixi pronounced “ca-shee-shee” is a percussion instrument that accompanies the birimbau, is of an ancient African origin. At first it was used in ceremonies to call enchanted spirits later in Brazil it became popular to play as a companion to the birimbau. The caxixi is hand made from woven rattan and small pebbles, shells or lead-shot. A small piece of thick leather or gourd is used to complete the caxixi and add weight to the instrument.

Foot notes: Most caxixi are sold with the birimbau together as a set in which mine came with the birimbau.

Citations: Capoeira connection [a blog and article on building the birimbau] > Caxixi.com (a site specific to the caxixi).