Congas: "macho" instruments? - Can an instrument be macho?

[Light Seeker]

Today, on two separate occasions, I have been told that congas are "macho" instruments. What do you think of this?

Personally, I disagree. Instruments cannot be macho. The people playing the instruments can be macho. I would, however, call the congas energetic instruments. I would even go so far as to say they are masculine instruments (emphasizing a difference between "macho" and "masculine"). The reason I am averse to calling it a macho instrument is because for me personally, music is a spiritual path, and I believe that machismo is related to the ego, which is something I strive to shed through my musical spiritual path. So, being macho, which is to say being excessively showy, competitive, dominating, and often arrogant, is completely at odds with what I'm trying to be, as a musician, and as a human being. One can't transcend the mundane when one is attached to egoic pursuits.

This post might sound trivial, but it's important to me to know if there are others out there who understand and agree with what I'm saying. So what do you think? Is machismo a requisite to playing congas?



But also, perhaps it's just a problem of semantics. Maybe the people who told me the instrument was "macho" just meant that it's "masculine".

[JohnnyConga]

Masculine is more to it!....so Macho may not be the right word, which lends more to "attitude" rather than the instrument itself....Thanks for the clarification....Johnny Conga...

[congamyk]

I'm not a language expert but the word macho in its Latin root means "male" and/or "masculine". So if you think the congas are masculine then that would be macho, because that's what it means. I think you are getting the actual word "macho or machismo" confused with the slang term "macho" from the 70's.

The slang term "macho" that became lingo in the 70's is a made up term regarding the sensitive, jealous, insecure and dominating male ego.

I'm not sure why they would use a Latin word for slang meaning insecure, egotistical, jealous, male chauvinist attitude of the times but that's what they did.

3 reasons someone might conclude that the congas are macho or masculine is because:

1) 99% of the players are men.

2) Because playing congas involves striking with rough and rigorous activity. Women can certainly strike a conga skin with proper technique but most associate the hard striking, slapping, etc. with men.

3) The conga was originally introduced and played by men from their roots of the instrument and the rhythms played. Whether for religious, economic and/or social reasons, men invented and started playing them. In these cultures disposable time was at a minimum and women typically didn't have any leisure time that men were afforded.



Edited By congamyk on 1192165651

[Light Seeker]

Myk, you're right. I wasn't aware of the etymology of the word (and to think I studied linguistics in college), and I was most certainly thinking of the slang term when I heard it used; that's the definition I always think of.

(Plus, the first of the two people who used that term to describe congas to me sort of came off as being very "macho" himself, in the 70s slang sense of the word.)

Thanks for clearing that up.



Edited By Light Seeker on 1192166461

[pavloconga]

Hi Lightseeker,
Thanks for your post. This is my perspective: the instrument itself is not 'macho' but it does seem to require at least something of that 'macho' quality to really make the instrument sing.

In Cuba I studied under an elderly (65yrs) old school conguero known as 'El Macho' (or usually just 'Macho'). Away from the congas he was a regular good guy, funny, relaxed and genuine.

However, as soon as he sat behind the congas I could see why he got his nickname. He suddenly became very physically powerful, masterful, energetic, courageous, confident and masculine. It was with this approach that he summoned incredible sound and feel from his drums. As a teacher he was tough, relentless, demanding and always pushing you to go further than you thought you could go.

Yet he brought all of his incredible skill to his battered old congas in a way that was totally devoid of ego. Hard to explain, but I hope I've done him justice.

To me, he embodied everything about playing the congas in a 'macho' yet egoless way.

[Amber]

Hi,

maybe this has also to do with the cultural background...I totally agree that playing congas needs energy and strength, but I am quite sure that nobody in Germany would call a conga "macho". In our language all drums have a female article and are felt to be female. Especially an instrument with a curved body! I guess that here more women play hand drums than men. The guys play drumkit!

:p Amber

[Light Seeker]

Pavloconga, thanks for that input. I think I am looking for a teacher like your "Macho". Someone who is not a macho person, yet who plays the drums with feeling and power, and can push me to do the same.

Amber, thank you too. VERY interesting. I find it fascinating to learn about differing cultural views on what is "masculine" and what is "feminine".

[pez]

I don't agree that congas can be classified as 'macho'. Drums are wood and skin, and the person who sits and plays beings out their energy and feeling to world. The drums respond based on who is playing. If a macho person plays that conga, it will become macho.

In any case, from what I have been taught from my teacher: the higher pitch drum is termed macho (male). The lower pitch/larger drum is termed hembra (female). The third drum, if any, is called tercera..

So to me, it is a question of the sound that makes something 'macho'. If anything, it is a balance between male and female sounds.

[windhorse]

My main teacher says that in the rumba, the tumba and segundo drums are what the females respond to or dance to. And that the male dances to the quinto - high drum.
In the Hatian drumming we have learned, the low lead drum is the mamon' or mother.

So, the bigger drums seem to be associated with the females, at least in what I've learned..
I have also my own evidence for this as a fit to our sex/psyche:
When I watch people dance when they walk by our occasional outdoor rumba, the guys seem to always respond to the high frequencies, and the women the lower frequencies..
Any one else noticed this??



Edited By windhorse on 1192227338

[tactikal]

There's definitely a link with the male/female - treble/bass thing.

With the electronic music I play; the girls love the deep, rhythmic bass whereas the guys like the higher-pitched, syncopated parts.

[Mike]

To add the German aspect again:

In our language all drums have a female article and are felt to be female. Especially an instrument with a curved body!

That´s right, although I have heard some people say (I DON´T belong to them) that the "female" drum is the receiver, therefore the drummer is the MACHO in what sense ever.