The atabaque (Pronounced: Ah-tah-bah-keh) is a tall, wooden, Afro-Brazilian hand drum. The shell is made traditionally of Jacaranda wood from Brazil. The head is traditionally made from calfskin. A system of ropes are intertwined around the body of the atabaque, securing the head to the top of the body. A metal ring, secured by the ropes, is positioned at the lower portion of the atabaque, and wooden wedges jammed between the body of the atabaque. One uses a hammer, very gently, to push up or push down these wedges, in turn, loosening or tightening the ropes, and thus tuning the sound of the Atabaque. The atabaque is used in Capoeira, Maculelê and the Afro_Brazilian religion of Candomblé. It is considered sacred in Candomblé
There are three types of atabaque:
Rum: Tallest with the lowest sound. Rum-Pi: Medium height, with medium sound. Lê: Shortest with the highest sound.
In Maculelê and the rituals of Candomblé, as many as three atabaques are used (usually one of each type), but in Capoeira, traditionally only one is used.
Maculelê (Pronounced: mah-koo-leh-LEH) is a dance from Brazil where a number of people gather in a circle called a roda with one or more atabaques positioned at the entrance of the circle.
As the Maculelê rhythm plays on the atabaque, the people in the circle begin rhythmically striking the sticks together.
When the leader gives the signal to begin playing Maculelê, two people enter the circle, and to the rhythm of the atabaque, they begin striking their own and each other's sticks together.
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