Cuíca
The Cuíca is a friction drum used in Brazilian music . It usually consists of a metal cylinder that is covered with leather on one side. A small bamboo stick is tied into the leather, which makes the membrane vibrate and which is located inside the instrument body. There is no evidence in the Brazilian literature for the suspicion that the instrument is covered with cat fur or skin.
The size of the instrument varies from tin can to cleaning bucket size (10–20 cm high). Particularly elaborately crafted instruments are made of brass and have several horns on the top.
Large, no longer portable instruments with a diameter of 50 cm and more are also called lion roars (e.g. used in the opera Drei Schwestern by Péter Eötvös ).
The cuíca is worn by the player under one arm, at about chest height with the support of a shoulder strap. Rubbing the stick with a damp piece of fabric or leather creates squeaky sounds. The musician varies the pitch by pressing the thumb or fingertips of the other hand on the skin. The instrument is typically used for samba music . From simple rhythmic structures to entire melodies, the Cuíca offers a multitude of expressive possibilities.
A similar instrument in Western Europe is the humming pot .
Web links
- John M. Schechter: Cuíca. In: Grove Music Online (English; subscription required).
- Cuica , Grinnell College Musical Instrument Collection
- A Cuíca (Documentário de 1978) on YouTube