The birimbau is making its way through many
different communities. When the birimbau is played the birimbau is held
vertically the birimbau is struck with a small stick only two notes are
produced during performance. The birimbau is played by holding the
instrument vertically 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 capoeria and
other dances. Nowadays the birimbau is adopted as a percussion
instrument to which it has found its way through jazz, popular, and
other forms of world music.
The Caxixi:
The caxixi pronounced “cachichi” is a percussion instrument in which is
a small rattle woven from rattan. A bottom surface is added to weight
the instrument down a bit for the ease of performance. The "fill" is
filled in, in this case small pebbles, lead buck shot, or anything a
bit heavy although small that makes a percussive sound. The cacixi
maybe played individually or in accompaniment with the birimbau. In my
case this instrument came with the birimbau. When the caxixi is played
with the birimbau the caxixi is then held together with the birimbau
the right hand holds the birimbau the left hand holds the caxixi during
the play of the birimbau. Foot notes: The caxixi was acquired on same
date as Birimbau (came with instrument). There are close equivalents to
the birimbau found in Central to Southern Africa.
The Anatomy of the Birimbau:
The birimbau is constructed from a bow, a stick in which is used to
play the instrument. A brass ring or sometimes small rock or shell or a
small peace of wood; in which is turned to play the wood
Name: Birimbau
Type: Struck Monochord > Percussion
Region: Brazil > South America
Source: Pacific Drum Shop Vancouver, B.C. Canada.
Description: The birimbau is a monochord or single-stringed chordophone, it’s
basically a bow with one string and a gourd attached. A brass ring or a
hard-piece of wood or sometimes a shell would be used as a bridge to
adjust the tone of the string when being struck with a small chop-stick
like peace of wood. The use of the birimbau is associated with the
martial art and dance called "Capoeira". Capoeira is a martial art form concealed in a dance that was used by the slaves as a means of
survival back in the colonial times. Similar instruments are found
through out Central and South Africa in which the birimbau may have its
origins.