Vocab of the Week!

This week's word is cabeca. What's that you say? Cabeca, the sphere - like piece of the mystical capoeira instrument, the berimbau. Its actually what resonates the sounds from the instrument. Cabecas are made from a type of brazillian squash that's hollowed out, dried, and the glossed and sometimes its even designed. There are three main types of cabecas used in capoeira: Gunga, Medio, and Viola. The gunga is the largest and deepest sounding cabeca. The gunga tends to be held by the mestre, or the leader of the roda. Mostly the gunga maintains the torque and the variations are the most basic. The Medio is the 2nd biggest and used to maintain the torque, but is open to play more variations. The viola is the smallest and highest pitch of the three. This is where the majority of the variations come from in the bateria. Also, remember to always be careful with cabecas because they are the most delicate part of the berimbau.

Vocab of the Week

This week's vocab is Bateria. Now, don't be afraid of words you can't read. It is mostly because you probably don't speak portuguese but it is okay. Bateria is a word you have probably heard before. Bateria is the band of a capoeira roda. These are the people who play berimbau, atabaque, and pandeiro (as well as agogo and reco reco) This is where all the music and songs come from, so of course you want to pay respect to them as well. Don't let this capoeiristas stay on an instrument for too long (unless they want to stay.) Also, don't stand in front of any of the musicians, mostly because it's hard to play through something (and you're blocking their view of the jogos.) Most imporantly, LISTEN to them. They are playing for you, the players, and the rest of the roda. Nobody likes to be ignored when trying to entertain you, so do them a favor, and be entertained. Enjoy your roda, and enjoy your bateria!