Conga: From Africa to the Americas
It started out as a solid hollowed-out log with animal skin tacked to it in Africa. This ancient musical instrument that eventually came to be known as the conga, found its way to the Caribbean, Central and South America. To vary its sound, it was made in a various sizes and shapes.
These drums are available in four sizes. The biggest is the tumba and the smallest is the nino or boy in Spanish. Some players have all these drums in a set.
Today, this drum is not just made from wood as many models are made from fiberglass. The modern type of this drum has a skin that is tune-able. No matter what its physical design is, this instrument is a fundamental part of the percussive section of Latin music of the Americas.
The large Bantu makuta drum could be the forebear of the barrel-shaped Cuban hand drum called the tumbadora, known elsewhere as the conga. There are three sizes for the tumbadoras: the large bass tumbadora, the medium tres por dos, and the smaller quinto. The quinto does the most complex rhythm configuration, while the two bigger drums do the basic rhythm.
This drum may have its origin in Africa, but it must be noted that tumbadoras and bongos would not be created if not for European manufacturing, including Spains wine barrels. All percussion instruments with this design produce notes with the heel of the hand and the fingers. The drum head can be slapped to create another tone.
Persons who play this instrument are called congueros. They are the people who dance while following the players path Rumberos. When Latin music became popular in the United States in the 1950s, the name of this instrument was created.
New York jazz and Cuban son combined to come up with mambo, and later became salsa. Latin musician and TV personality Desi Arnaz was instrumental in the popularization of these drums. The word conga comes from the rhythm la conga used during the carnaval (carnival) in Cuba. - 18424
These drums are available in four sizes. The biggest is the tumba and the smallest is the nino or boy in Spanish. Some players have all these drums in a set.
Today, this drum is not just made from wood as many models are made from fiberglass. The modern type of this drum has a skin that is tune-able. No matter what its physical design is, this instrument is a fundamental part of the percussive section of Latin music of the Americas.
The large Bantu makuta drum could be the forebear of the barrel-shaped Cuban hand drum called the tumbadora, known elsewhere as the conga. There are three sizes for the tumbadoras: the large bass tumbadora, the medium tres por dos, and the smaller quinto. The quinto does the most complex rhythm configuration, while the two bigger drums do the basic rhythm.
This drum may have its origin in Africa, but it must be noted that tumbadoras and bongos would not be created if not for European manufacturing, including Spains wine barrels. All percussion instruments with this design produce notes with the heel of the hand and the fingers. The drum head can be slapped to create another tone.
Persons who play this instrument are called congueros. They are the people who dance while following the players path Rumberos. When Latin music became popular in the United States in the 1950s, the name of this instrument was created.
New York jazz and Cuban son combined to come up with mambo, and later became salsa. Latin musician and TV personality Desi Arnaz was instrumental in the popularization of these drums. The word conga comes from the rhythm la conga used during the carnaval (carnival) in Cuba. - 18424
About the Author:
If you want to try a rhythmic beat of music, try using the Conga. This musical instrument originates from Africa and has moved its way to the Caribbean, South and Central America. These come in different designs to choose from and you can visit this site at http://www.yourworldinstruments.com for selections.
posted by X - Men at
4:40 AM
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