Listen to Candombe
Candombe drums, tambores de candombe, are used to play Candombe music. The drums are made of wood and have a curved barrel shape. There barrel-shaped drums (tamboriles) are purposed for size and function.
Chico, the smallest drum provides the high timbre and signals the tempo.
Repique, the medium drum, drives syncopation and desired improvisation.
Piano, the large, low timbre sound, brings in the melody.
The drums, tamboriles, are made of wood and capped with animal skin. Prior to a performance, the drums are fired-tuned (or rope-tuned). Drums are worn at the waist with a shoulder strap (talig or tali) for support, balance, and stabilization. The drum is played with one stick (clave) striking one side of the drum, which is called making wood (hacer madera) and one hand striking the top of the drum (the animal skin).
The Candombe drums (Tamboriles) are made of wood with animal skins that are rope-tuned or fire-tuned minutes before the performance. They are worn at the waist with the aid of a shoulder strap called a talig or talí and played with one stick and one hand.
Musical Instrument Museums
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These museums showcase musical instruments indigenous to their regions and the instruments from other cultures that affected them. The Marrakech (Morocco) museum has a breathtaking collection of African percussion and wind instruments indigenous to Sub-Saharan West Africa. The Athens museum has a magnificent collection of musical instruments that travelled through Athens throughout millennia. The USA-based National Music Museum, based in Vermillion, South Dakota on the campus of University of South Dakota has broad and deep collection of instruments from all over the world, including the US.