ROGUE SAMBA

Makumba

African Rhythm in 6/8

This piece is led by the Repenique. Additional instruments include multiple Agogôs, and three Surdos.

It begins with the break. The Repenique gives the call, and the ensemble responds. After the break, the Agogôs play solo for a few bars. (The Repenique player can tap the side of the drum in a jazz swing rhythm to set a clear tempo for the surdos.) Then, the Surdos come in, one at a time: one, two, three. The Repenique then comes in with a number of bars of its main groove. The player can switch to a number of bars of the alternative groove and back as many times as desired. Just before the break, the Repenique player plays quietly, and then they play the break VERY LOUD. The ensemble will hear it and respond. After the break, all instruments return to the groove sumultaneously.

The break can be repeated any number of times. The Repenique player can play the second call of any break very quietly, and the ensemble responds quietly. After the break, the group plays the entire groove quietly, until the next break, when the Repenique player plays with aggression. This delivers great dynamic contrast!

The Repenique player ends the piece by calling in the break and stopping after the first response. With no second call, the group knows that the song is over.