Instrument: Agogô

Overview

Two bells, HIGH and low, hit with a wooden stick. You can also play in-between notes by clicking the bells together.

Repertoire

Slow Samba

Here is an audio recording that you can use to memorize the main groove and key points for Slow Samba on the Agogô:

Does the Agogô start with the HIGH or low note for the Slow Samba groove? First, try to recall it without looking, then click the triangle to see it.

A HIGH note starts the groove.

Do you recall the chant for Slow Samba, Agogô? First, try to recall it without looking, then click the triangle to see it.

I'M HIGH. you're low.

THAT GUY is slow.

HINT: Remember to say "I'M HIGH" quickly, pause, and say "you're low" quickly. "THAT GUY is slow" is said with an even pace.

Do you recall the count for Slow Samba, Agogô? Try to recall it without looking.

A ONE. a two.

AND THREE and four

HINT: Remember to say "A ONE" quickly, pause, and say "a two" quickly. "AND THREE and four" is said with an even pace.

How does Slow Samba start? Try to recall it without looking.

The Repenique starts it.

The player hits the stick on the metal for a synchopated rhythm.

The player plays "ONE, two, THREE, four with the bare left hand.

What is your first response to the lead player?

Four hits.

Is there anything unique about the very first line of the groove?

Yes. Skip the pickup note. It starts like this, without "I'm":

HIGH. you're low.

THAT GUY is slow.

I'M HIGH. you're low.

THAT GUY is slow.

Samba Reggae

Here is an audio recording that you can use to memorize the main groove and key points for Samba Reggae on the Agogô:

Does the Agogô start with the HIGH or low note for the Samba Reggae groove? First, try to recall it without looking, then click the triangle to see it.

Two HIGH notes start the groove.

Do you recall the chant for Samba Reggae, Agogô? Try to recall it without looking, then click the triangle to see it.

UPTOWN.

downtown.

SAILBOAT.

submarine.

HINT: Remember to say "UPTOWN downtown" with an even pace. "SAILBOAT" is quick, "sub" has a pause, and "marine" is quick.

Do you recall the count for Samba Reggae, Agogô? Try to recall it without looking.

ONE - AND -

two - and -

THREE E - a

- e and -

HINT: Try tapping evenly for every symbol above, including the dash, then say the count aloud.

How does Samba Reggae start? Try to recall it without looking.

The Repenique starts it.

The player uses polyurethane sticks and plays a synchopated pattern.

What is your first response to the lead player?

Two hits.

Is there anything unique about the very first line of the groove?

No. For Samba Reggae, the Agogô starts on the one. There is no pickup note, so there is nothing to skip.

UPTOWN.

downtown.

SAILBOAT.

submarine.

Makumba

Does the Agogô start with the HIGH or low note for the Makumba groove? First, try to recall it without looking, then click the triangle to see it.

One low note starts the groove.

Do you recall the chant for Makumba, Agogô? Try to recall it without looking, then click the triangle to see it.

YOU don't

SEE WHY

grandma

SINGS.

HINT: Remember to say "YOU don't" and "grandma" quickly. "YOU" is a pickup note.

Do you recall the count for Makumba, Agogô? Try to recall it without looking.

Here it is in 6/8 time...

one -

TWO -

THREE -

four AND< /p>

- AND

HINT: Try tapping evenly for every symbol above, including the dash, then say the count aloud.

How does Makumba start? Try to recall it without looking.

The Repenique starts it.

The player uses polyurethane sticks and plays three quick notes with five normal notes immeidately following.

What is your first response to the lead player?

Two hits.

When does the Agogô start its groove?

After the intro, the Agogôs play alone, immediately. The high surdo comes in, followed by other instruments. Play this confidently. The spotlight is on the Agogôs here!

Is there anything unique about the very first line of the groove?

Yes. For Makumba, Skip the pickup note. It starts like this, without "YOU":

don't

SEE WHY

grandma

SINGS.

YOU don't

SEE WHY

grandma

SINGS.

HINT: "don't" starts on the "one" of the musical measure."

O Bebê

Does the Agogô start with the HIGH or low note for the O Bebê groove? First, try to recall it without looking, then click the triangle to see it.

Three low notes start the Agogô groove.

Do you recall the chant/count for O Bebê, Agogô? Try to recall it without looking, then click the triangle to see it.

The notes are spaced, so they work best as a count, rather than a chant.

- - and a

two - - -

- - AND A

FOUR - - -

HINT: Make sure that the two and the four land on the main beats. The notes roughly align with the medium and high surdos, though the surdos just play the last two notes, rather than all three.

How does O Bebê start? Try to recall it without looking.

A whistle plays the "Baby Woke Up! rhythm, then two quarter notes, four eighth notes, and the caixa follows with eight sixteenth notes. Immediately, the ensemble plays "Baby Woke Up!" The surdos and agogôs go immediately into their grooves.

What melody do you need to listen for?

Listen for the Repenique and Timbal play the following call and response melody:

R: "I can go to the party, after the baby goes to sleep."

T: "When the baby goes to sleep?"

R: "I can go to the party, after the baby goes to sleep."

T: "When the baby goes to sleep?"

R: "When the baby goes to sleep?"

T: "When the baby goes to sleep"

R: "When the baby goes to sleep?"

T: "When the baby goes to sleep"

R: "I can go to the party, after the baby goes to sleep."

Starting on the word, "sleep", the caixa plays eight solo notes, while the ensemble is silent.

The ensemble then plays, "Baby Woke Up!", and the Surdos and Agogôs go back into their groove."

What is the break?

If the whistle blows four times before "Baby Woke Up!", that means the break is coming, and we DO NOT restart the groove. Here is the break:

R: "Paddy cake"

T: "Paddy cake. Baker's

All: "Man!" (One hit.)

R: "Bake me a cake"

T: "As fast as"

All: "You Can!" (Two hits.)

R: "Paddy cake"

T: "Paddy cake.

All: "Baker's Man!" (Three hits.)

Caixa: 8 hits

All: "Baby Woke up!"

The groove starts immediately, as normal.

How do we end it?

The second time that the break is called, we play the full break and stop immediately after "Baby Woke Up!" To make sure, there will be a long whistle during the final caixa's eight notes.

Fast Samba

Does the Agogô start with the HIGH or low note for the Fast Samba groove? First, try to recall it without looking, then click the triangle to see it.

A low note starts the groove.

Do you recall the chant for Slow Samba, Agogô? First, try to recall it without looking, then click the triangle to see it.

I'm low.

YOU'RE HIGH.

strawber

RY PIE.

HINT: Remember to say "I'm low quickly, pause, and say "YOU'RE HIGH" quickly. "strawberRY PIE" is said with an even pace.

Do you recall the count for Fast Samba, Agogô? Try to recall it without looking.

a one.

A TWO

and three

AND FOUR

HINT: Remember to say "a one" quickly, pause, and say "A TWO" quickly. "and three AND FOUR" is said with an even pace.

How does Fast Samba start? Try to recall it without looking.

The Repenique starts it.

The player uses a wooden stick and open hand.

The player plays a five note burst, another five note burst, then an eleven note burst. This is the Sergio Mendes break. One way to remember it is that "Ser-gi-o Men-des" has five syllables that are reflected in the five note opening phrase.

What is your first response to the lead player?

The ensemble plays back the 5-5-11 note phrase.

Is there anything unique about the very first line of the groove?

Yes. Skip the pickup note. It starts like this, without "I'm":

low.

YOU'RE HIGH.

strawber

RY PIE.

I'm low.

YOU'RE HIGH.

strawber

RY PIE.