Greetings from South America

[ATALAKIMBAMBA]

Hey, what´s up, my peep´s??? I´ve been reading the forum for a couple of weeks now, and I´m ready to introduce myself.
I live in Argentina, land of Tango, Mate and Diego Maradona. Here we have a little know form of drumming know as Candombe (little know even here) wich is the african legacy tha maked me go completly berserk!!! I´ve found it very similar to Guaguanco in some ways, but have to admit that relates much to Conga´s or Comparsa´s form. It´s really a carnival style, in wich drummers go walking down several streets playing with barrel-type drums straped over the shoulder (tamboriles they are named), bare left hand and stick in right hand, for right handed. Real warriors we are wen playing Candombe. I could weite lots of stuff here, but I prefer to see what you have to say about this and start relating with you, congaheads. I Also play congas, wich ismy first love, and find the forum very interesting. Think of a lot of you guys really like a brotherhood, always helping each other, wich I think is the original spirit in all tamboreros!!!

Ache to all, Juancito Majadero...

P. D. Check our Comparsa´s website, Kumbabantú http://www.usuarios.lycos.es/kumbabantu/

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[ATALAKIMBAMBA]

Some more pictures...

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[JohnnyConga]

Let me be the first to WELCOME you toour family of Drum Brothers and sisters here at CongaPlace....we have a few others from Argentina here....We are familiar with Candombe here in the states, we just dont play enough or know enough about it.....sooooooooo....now you can 'school" us as to what it's all about....Bienvenido a CongaPlace....."JC" Johnny Conga....

[ATALAKIMBAMBA]

Heeey...thank you, JC. I feel really good to hear that you are familiar with Candombe in the states. How´s that? Are they some players over there? Do you know some of the history behind it? Well, I´ll be writing again...soon
Ache to all...El Maja...

[JohnnyConga]

Why not tell us what you know about Candombe for those that may not know or ever heard Candombe drumming....Thank you..."JC" Johnny Conga...

[pavloconga]

Juancito, welcome, bienvenido!
Beautiful images. Yes I have even heard of Candombe and I live in Australia. I have not heard how the rhythms sound, but would love to know more about it.

I was at a party on saturday and there were some Argentinians there. They asked me if I knew about Candomble. I knew very little, but they were surprised I had even heard of it too.

again, welcome to Congaboard!
Pavlo
Australia

[pcastag]

I've got a recording of some uruguayan candombe. hot stuff, you can Definitely hear the Brazilian influence.
PC

[ATALAKIMBAMBA]

Well, first of all thanks again for the warm welcome. I have a hard time writing because of the language barrier (my english´s not pretty good), but ...In the website I have some audio and video files that could de illustrative..don´t know how to post it myself, yet. We have a translator button and a short review about candombe. I´ll try to post a video and some transcriptions to explain this wicked style...el majaMy Webpage

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[Bataboom]

these drums look simular to the African kpanlogo only the tuning rods are straight and not angled.

Oh and welcome ATALAKIMBAMBA
Im from regular America the screwed up one



Edited By Bataboom on 1141372154

[ATALAKIMBAMBA]

well Bataboom, thanx! You know, tamboriles looks like this right know because industrialization, but theres still the tradiditional thang going on right here, in our x-tra regular America (he-he, all pun intended) of playing with tacked head drums, pitched by heat of a nice fire. People usually chi-chat, drank some beer or wine, familys gather and some prefer to start singing, and then ...se va armando la cuerda!!! Que vivan los cueros...
Aché del maja

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[JohnnyConga]

What kind of wood is used in making of the drums?
Who is the master Drum maker there?
What are the names of the different size drums?
How many Candombe groups are there?
Are there recordings available?
I'm sure there will be more queations to come...."JC" Johnny Conga...

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[SkinDeep]

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY, I'M GLAD YOU'VE FOUND YOUR HOME ON THE INTERNET!!!
LOOKING FORWARD TO EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO OFFER, AS FAR AS CONDOMBE I'M ONLY FAMILIAR WITH THE NAME.

[ATALAKIMBAMBA]

Yo! JC´s questions...let´s see..traditionaly they were made of beer, whiskey, or Yerba Mate barrels, the only wood that afro population here were able to get..today the best option is Oak or Pino Brasil...
...the best maker is named Juan ¨Velorio¨, if he is still alive...hope so, he is a great artisan. But the best drums are made from two brands, Pocho´s and Eco´s...
...The ¨cuerda de tambores¨ (string of drums) are:
*Chico (alto), the time keeper
*Repique(tenor), the improviser, kind of
and the Piano(Bass), the one making the base, plus variations and¨call and answer¨ patterns within other pianos...
...Candombe groups are called "comparsas" which march in de "desfile de llamadas (callings-parades)".In the last "desfile de llamadas" (the annual competition in Uruguay, not in Argentina) 37 Comparsas participated marching along 12 blocks, but not all the Comparsas achieve participation. Plus there are several other groups relationated with the Comparsas (smaller "cuerdas", at least one chico, repique and piano)....uffff, hard question to answer, that, man....might even confused you a little bit, just let me know, ok?
...There are some recordings. One is called "uruguay-tambores del candombe", higly recomendated. Other one is "Candombe Puro", by Eduardo da Luz, incredible compositor, superb choruses and arrangements, and of course the most "arrasadores" tamborileros...Keep them comig, people, just be patient with my writing!!!
Thank you for your welcome, Skindeep!!!
...Aché del maja...

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[Diceman]

Welcome Atalakimbaba,

Great to have another perspective in our community.
Are those drums as heavy as they look?

Suave
Diveman

[ABAKUA]

Are those drums as heavy as they look?

Suave
Diveman

Not at all my brother, the drums are super light, far lighter than any conga.
They are carried and played for many blocks during carnaval.

I have had the opportunity of also studying Candombe with several local old school Uruguayan Candombe drummers as well as Chichito Cabral and have played in large comparsas for llamadas during Festivals and the like, as well as performing Candombe with the drummers for Los Fatales from Uruguay during a tour of Australia.
As ATALAKIMBAMBA explained, the 3 tambores are called Piano (biggest of the lot which plays the base of the groove. like a tumba in guaguanco) largest and lowest in pitch of the three tambores, its head measures 16 inches in diameter; responsible for the rhythmic base of candombe, its rhythmic function is similar to the upright or electric bass, then Repique (which acts similar to a quinto) its name tells us this tambor embellishes candombe's rhythm with improvised phrases; its head measures 12 inches in diameter. Then Chico (which is the time keeper, the constant "pa-laka pa-laka pa-laka") - single strike (slap) with left hand on the pulse of every beat (in 4/4) followed by 2 strikes with the stick in the right hand. More advanced players will play with 3 strikes with the stick typically. smallest and highest in pitch of the three tambores, its head measures 8.5 inches in diameter; the chico is the rhythmic pendulum of the cuerda.
Candombe in played in 3-2 clave, with clave being played on the shell of the drum. This is commonly reffered to as 'tocando madera' ie playing wood.

Bienvenido ATALAKIMBAMBA,

I was born in Mendoza Arg, but have lived in Australia since 1977.

I am in a bit of a hurry now, but will post some of my photos a bit later.

Marcelo.



Edited By ABAKUA on 1141569919

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