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 By Kurt
Rasmussen with
Special Thanks to His Brazilian Instructors, Carlinhos
De Ouro Pandeiro, PadrČ Miguel, Marcelo
Maragini, Thobias de Vai-Vai, Tadeu de Vai- Vai,
Mark Lamson, Marcos Suzano Carlinhos Brown, Dr.
Michael Carney, NenČ Repinique and Alessandro
D' Agostini Miranda
THE REPINIQUE
The Repinique is a drum that comes from Brazil. It's
played in many forms of Brazilian music but is best
know for it's role in playing Samba and
Axe. In this article I'm going to concentrate on playing Samba.
The Repinique is constructed of metal with a plastic
head attached to each end of the shell. The size of the drum is 12" X 12". The tuning
is extremely tight. For proper tuning I will suggest a list of recordings at
the end of this article to listen to that will give you a good idea of the range
of the drum. The Repinique is played with a
stick and a bare hand. When Playing Axe' (a style of music from Northern
Brazil) the Repinique is played with two sticks but that's for another
article. There seems to be a little confusion about the name of the drum. The
Repinique is
pronounced (Hep-in-nek). There is another Repinique that is spelled the same
way but is pronounced (Hep-in-ee-key). This is a smaller drum 12" X
10". In Northern Brazil the Repinique is often referred to as a Repique(
Hep-peek). This word Repique is where the word Repinique comes from. The word
repique means ricochet In musical terms it roughly means a rolling rim shot,
a Ruff or a drum-roll. There's another drum called the Repique de Mao
(Repique of the hand). This is a drum played with two bare
hands and is used in a form of Brazilian music called Pagode. Which we'll
discuss in another article.
THE ROLL OF THE REPINIQUE
In the Escola de Samba bateria the Repinique is used as a lead drum. It
is used to signal what is called a breque (break) and the Paradinha which are
section solos often played by the Tamborims. The Repinique also starts and stops
the Bateria. There are traditional rhythm patterns the Repinique plays that I'm
going to refer to as calls. These calls are know by the whole bateria and in
many cases know by anyone who plays Samba. These calls are reminiscent of the
Abanico the Timbales play in Afro-Cuban music and are traditional, established
and easily recognizable.
BRAZILIAN CLAVE
Often referred to as the "Brazilian Clave" this "key" is
used to decide the direction of the patterns played by the Bateria and
is very similar to the Afro-Cuban Clave. However I'm not really comfortable
with using a Cuban term to describe a Brazilian musical concept. In Brazil this
pattern does not have a specific name even though it is extremely important to
the music played at Carnaval (Samba Enredo). In Afro-Cuban music when your playing
a pattern not in the correct Clave' your considered to be crossed or crusado.
This term being crossed or crusado has a completely different meaning in Brazil
such as Samba Crusado which refers to a technique of playing with your arms crossed
so it shouldn't't be used to describe whether or not the pattern
you are playing is in the correct direction. One of my teachers refers
to this as being mounted ( montando) or not mounted ( nao montando) or in error
(erro) or correct (correto) he also believes it is important not to intellectualize
this to much. It is what it is. I'm going refer to this pattern simply
as the" key". The key has two directions the same as the Afro-Cuban
Clave. It's either
3/2 (example 1) or 2/3 (example 2). The Afro-Cuban Clave is a two bar phrase.
I've
transcribed the Brazilian "key" into a 2/4 two bar phrase
but a lot of people prefer one bar of 4/4. I just wanted to emphasize the two
sides.
THE RIDE
I've decided in this article to use video rather
than transcribing the rhythm patterns. I think this will make it easier to learn
the sticking and get a better idea for the swing (swingui) involved in playing
the Repinique and for that matter all the percussion instruments in the Bateria.
I'm exaggerating the movement of my hand and the stick so you'll
want to refine the technique as you learn.
In
this lesson I'm going to show you one of the most basic rhythm patterns.
I'm going to refer this basic rhythm pattern as the Ride. The Repinique
is a very complicated instrument with different patterns (Rides) and lots of
intricacies. There can also be a lot of improvisation involved with playing the
Repinique which is usually reserved for the elite players and the Guarda
Velha (Old Guard) of the Bateria.
The Section 1 of the video shows you the basic sticking
of the ride played in 3/2.
In Section 2 of the
video I've
added the slap to the ride. The slap is played like an open slap on a Conga.
In Brazil they say that the melody of the Samba is in the Repinique and the
magic is in the bare hand. I am LEFT HANDED
so please be aware that when I use my left hand (if
you are right handed) you will use your right hand.
In Section 3 of the
video I've added Alessandro
D'Agostini
Miranda on Surdo so you can hear the ride in context. We're playing this
at a fairly slow tempo and it is mounted in 3/2. Click
to hear the Repinique that I recorded with other instruments in the Bateria. This example is played
in 2/3. You'll also hear some
Calls and Breques and a little improvisation. Check out the call right before
the soloing it's the most standard and recognizable there is.
JUST THE BEGINNING
The Repinique is
a very difficult instrument to try to learn and to teach in a lesson like this.
In this article I simply wanted to give you a brief introduction to the Repinique
and the playing. As with all my articles this is just a
start. My goal is to hopefully inspire someone to want to learn
more a. To further your studies find a qualified teacher in your area. Another
good way to get a introduction is join an Escola de Samba. there are both private
ones and some can be found in the Colleges and Universities around the country.This
is a good way to get started but be aware that the information may not be as
authentic as it can be.Your best bet is to go to Brazil. You can search the
internet for organizations and individuals who take groups of students down
to Brazil and have contacts to get you there. I would not suggest going alone
and trying to go to a Escoloa de Samba by yourself. This could get you in a
lot of trouble. So if you can go to Brazil.You won't regret it. Not only
will you be able to immerse yourself in the culture and the music but I bet
you will fall in love with it just like I have. Having had the honor of performing
in Carnaval in both Rio and Sao Paulo and being a member of the Bateria in
the Escola de Samba Via-Vai in the city Sao Paulo has enriched my life in so
many ways. I can only hope that others
will have the opportunity to experience what I have.
A FINAL THOUGHT
The Repinique has such a great sound a can be a great addition to all genres
of music. Drummers I encourage you to check it out and add one to your kit.
Percussionists adding a Repinique to your Timbale set up will bring you a
new color that is also great for solos. Instead of wearing it with strap
you can just set on a snare stand.
LISTENING
Look for Samba Enredo or Samba cds or dvd's from Carnaval in Brazil.
Here are a few names of Escoloa de Sambas to look for:
Mocidade Independente-
Portela-
Bejia Flor-
but there are many more and they are all great!
Also check out the Sergio Mendes cd "Brazileiro"
It has a wonderful introduction performed by a mestre (master) of the Repinique
known as Jaguar and a hundred of the best Sambistas (Samba players) in
Rio. It's an example of Samba mounted in 2/ 3. Check out the solo at the
start, the breques and the call right before the Bateria enters.
Enjoy!
Sou Preto y Branco
Kurt Rasmussen
(Kurtinho Pandeiro)
Kurt Rasmussen has been a baptized member of the
Brazilian Escola de Samba Vai-Vai since 1997. He has participated in four
Carnavals, and is a four time Carnaval Champion. He has toured and performed
with many notable Brazilian artists, such as Moacir Santos, Sergio Mendes,
Tania Maria, Kleber Jorge and L.A. Samba led by good friend and fellow LP artist,
Ron Powell. Kurt is also teaching at UNLV and is Director
of the University's Escola de Samba Mocidade Rebelde.
Kurt is also currently playing percussion with Cirque du Soleil in
their production of "O" in Las Vegas, Nevada
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For more lessons by Kurt Rasmussen,
please visit our Tech Support section.
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