2004
2003
2002
In November of 2002, people from all across the world joined residents of the Southgate Apartments in Ft. Benning, Georgia to play jamming Samba Reggae for the Puppetistas protesting the School of the Americas. A bateria of over a hundred percussionists filled the streets with a sound that could not be ignored. Samba Reggae is a recent musical style from the northeast of Brazil that combines the groove of Jamaican Reggae with the large, processional, percussion ensembles of Brazilian Samba. As in Brazil, people play with whatever instruments they can find; buckets become repiniques, trash barrels become surdos, pots and pans become bells, as everybody raises their voice to sing.
If you can donate buckets, barrels, pots, pans, or money for instruments, please contact us.
Rule #1 means we all start and stop as a group, which makes us sounds really
powerful. Also, if you haven't noticed yet, these drums can get very loud
and obnoxious, and other people in the puppet show need quiet to be able
to talk to each other. So please be polite, and don't play until everybody
is ready to start together, and don't play after we stop.
Rule #2 means react to everyone else around you. When you're playing try to
be able to hear at least all the people right around you, and check yourself
to make sure that what you're playing fits. If you need help or have questions
ask the people around you. If there are people without instruments, share yours
for awhile. If someone forgets Rule #1, it's your job to gently remind them
about it.
Rule #3 means if it's too loud or you get sore, pass your instrument to someone
else and take a break. Try to stay relaxed when you play.For more information:
http://puppetista.org/blocosouthgate.html
Rhythms for 2004:
Samba Reggae
Samba Reggae is a kind of music from the Northeast of Brazil, from a city called
Salvador, in the state of Bahia. It was created in the last few decades by
descendents of African slaves, and is loosely based on the music they brought
from Africa, along with many influences, like the Samba from Rio de Janeiro,
in the South of Brazil, and reggae music from Jamaica. In many neighborhoods
in Bahia, kids get together to play on cans or barrels. Every year all the
big groups, called Blocos Afros, parade for carnival. Each group can have
over a thousand performers! If you want to hear recordings look for Ilê Aiyê,
Olodum, or Timbalada to start.
Don't worry if you don't read music, it's not that hard and you'll pick it
up quickly. You just have to know one part and then how to start and how to
stop.
Choose Format:.pdf, .jpeg, Finale, Midi, Enigma
More 2003 photos:
By Linda Panetta:
From MNSOAW:
Rehearsals for the 2002 debut of the Southgate Samba School aka. Bloco Southgate:
School of the Americas Watch seeks to close the US Army School of the Americas, which is responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America
Drums & Demonstrations Manual tips on how to use drums at demonstrations
How to Make Bucket Drums step-by-step instructions on how to make your own drum from a bucket
BrazilianPercussion.Com buy traditional drums from Brazil
Puppetista Links from the main page
12/03