Capoeira Music

There is no Capoeira Game without Music! It is a profound integral part.

• sets the style of the game
• sets the speed of the game
• determines the energy of the players within a roda and the energy of the roda itself.

The capoeirista is distinguished by other fighters for his/her Musicality ; the ability to play music and sing ; to play capoeira according to specific rhythm; have energy’s level and game’s pace directly influenced. In a Roda, players start their Game in front of the Bateria – other capoeiristas playing music instruments and singing -. The Bateria, according to the rhythm / lyrics, will signify when the Game should start.

The Instruments that are included in a Capoeira Bateria are:

• Berimbau – The fundamental instrument of Capoeira, its Rhythm found in popular songs nowadays
• Pandeiro – type of hand drum
• Atabaque – a brazilian wooden drum
• Agogo – a single or multiple bell

The major Instruments are the Berimbau, the pandeiro and the atabaque as Nestor Capoeira mentions at The Little Capoeira Book . However, different Capoeira Groups will use different number an kind of instruments. More commonly, up to 3 Berimbaus, 2 pandeiros, 1 atabaque and an agogo will be used.

The songs in Capoeira are linked with the History, the Culture, stories of Mestres or just anything within the context of the game.

These are categorized below:

• Ladainha – the roda opens with a ladainha (=littany), sung by a mester or an advanced capoeirista
• Louvacao – an embrace usually to God that signifies the start of the game
• Corridos – are call of the singer and reponse of the chorus and determine the action within the game
• Quadras – these can replace a ladainha- it is an improvisation of the main singer, while communicating with the goup, being funny, etc.

The Rhythms in Capoeira define the type and speed of the game in the Roda. These, improve the capoerista’s musicality.

They are categorized according to capoeira style.

Go to Instruments

Go toSongs

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