Instrument: Surdo, Low

Overview

This is the Surdo with the lowest tone. In a Rio Bateria, it is known as the "primero", since it's the main pulse of samba.

Repertoire

Slow Samba

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

It's very simple, as long as you know where the One is.

Two

Four

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.

Here's an audio example:

What is your first response to the lead player?

Four hits.

Here's an audio example:

How does the full intro go, including the start of the groove?

For in intro, play with the ensemble. The Repenique will then play the startup rhythm, and the Middle Surdo (Corti) will play three beats alone. The Repenique will play a short burst and the Corti plays one note. The following beat is the ONE.

The first note for the Low Surdo is on the TWO.

Here's an audio example of the full intro, including the start of the groove:

What is "Break 4"?

This is the four beat break. It is indicated by four blows of the whistle. The ensemble plays a sequence of one note, two, three, four and yells, "Hey". There is another sequence of one, two, three and four notes and the groove starts again.

Here's the count:

ONE! (two, three, four - the Repenique plays solo through these beats.)

ONE AND (two, three, four)

ONE AND TWO (three, four)

ONE AND TWO AND (three) "HEY!" (The "Hey!" is on beat four.)

ONE! (two, three, four - the Repenique plays solo through these beats.)

ONE AND (two, three, four)

ONE AND TWO (three, four)

ONE AND TWO AND (three). The Repenique plays "AND A Four" and the Corti plays "AND".

The following beat is the ONE of the groove with the Low Surdo playing it's first beat on the TWO.

Here's an audio example:

What is "Break 2"?

This break is indicated with TWO FINGERS.

After a series of fast singles, the Repenique plays a beat that is similar to the Corti beat (but a bit different.) The Surdos, Agogo, and Tamborim then repeat the exact same pattern two times. The Repenique and Caixa keep their groove going steady during this break.

Here's an audio example:

How do we end the piece?

This ending is indicated with one long whistle, and possibly a fist in the air.

The Repenique then plays the key rhythm and the ensemble makes one, final hit.

Here's an audio example:

Samba Reggae

Do you recall the initial intro for Samba Reggae? Try to recall it without looking.

The Repenique plays the following, using two polyurethane sticks:

A t t A t t A t

Here's an audio example:

What is the first response, in Samba Reggae

Two hits.

Here's an audio example:

Can you recall the full Samba Reggae Intro?

After a few of the "Two Hit" responses, the Repenique plays a different phrase and the Corti responds with eight hits. The next beat is the ONE for the groove.

Here's an audio example:

What is the Samba Reggae groove for the Low Surdo?

This is from Bahia so the Low Sudo plays on the ONE and the THREE.

ONE

THREE

How does the Low Surdo groove start for Samba Reggae?

After the eight hits from the Corti, the groove starts immediately on the ONE.

Here's an audio example:

What is the break for Samba Reggae?

The Repenique plays the following pattern, then the Surdos all repeat it twice while the res of the group keeps going.

ONE - - -

- - - -

FOUR E - A

ONE - - -

- - - -

FOUR E - A

ONE - - -

TWO E - A -

THREE - - -

FOUR E - A

ONE - - -

- - - -

Here's an audio example:

How does Samba Reggae end?

The Repenique plays a six note pattern, and everybody hits the final note, which is on the ONE.

Here's an audio example:

Makumba

Do you recall the chant for Makumba, Low Surdo? Try to recall it without looking.

- - - - - -

Hey - - - - Mi

guel - - - - -

Eat - Your - Chick en!

Four

Here's an audio example:

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 immediately following.

Here's an audio example:

What is your first response to the lead player?

The ensemble responds with TWO hits.

Here's an audio example:

How does the full intro go, including the initial start of the groove?

Each response is TWO beats. After the Intro, the Agogôs play their groove, solo.

Here's an audio example of the full intro, including the start of the groove:

How do the Surdos come in?

The High Surdo follows the bells, then the Medium Surdo, and finally the Low Surdo. The Repenique is the last to enter.

Here's an audio example of Surdos entering:

What is the Break?

The break occurs when the Repenique plays the intro phrase loudly. The response is exacly like the opening.

Instead of Agogôs starting the groove alone, the whole ensemble goes back into the groove.

Note that the dynamics should follow the lead of the Repenique. If it plays loud, respond loudly. If it plays softly, play the response and the following groove softly.

Here's an audio example:

How do we end the piece?

The Repenique then plays the break, the ensemble responds with TWO hits. If the Repenique player stops after that, the piece is completed.

Here's an audio example:

O Bebê

Do you recall the chant/count for O Bebê, Low Surdo? 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.

ONE - - -

- - - A

THREE - - -

- - - A

The overall melody from the three Surdos is...

A ONE (low)

A TWO (medium)

A THREE (low)

A FOUR (high)

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 is the big challenge for the Low Surdo after "Baby Woke Up?"

The Low Surdo needs to play "A ONE" immediately after the "Baby Woke Up!" unison. I guess the Surdos represent the restless baby.

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

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.

Here's an audio example:

What is your first response to the lead player?

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

Here's an audio example:

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

It's very simple, as long as you know where the One is.

Two

Four

How does the full intro go, including the start of the groove?

For in intro, play with the ensemble. The Repenique will then play the startup rhythm, and the Middle Surdo (Corti) will play "FOUR AND". The following beat is the ONE, and the groove start immediately from there.

The first note for the Low Surdo is on the TWO.

Here's an audio example of the full intro, including the start of the groove:

What is "Break 4"?

Here's the count:

ONE! (two, three, four - the Repenique plays solo through these beats.)

ONE AND (two, three, four)

ONE AND TWO (three, four)

ONE AND TWO AND (three) "HEY!" (The "Hey!" is on beat four.)

ONE! (two, three, four - the Repenique plays solo through these beats.)

ONE AND (two, three, four)

ONE AND TWO (three, four)

ONE AND TWO AND (three). The Repenique plays "AND A Four" and the Corti plays "AND".

The following beat is the ONE of the groove with the Low Surdo playing it's first beat on the TWO.

Here's an audio example:

What is "Break 2"?

This break is indicated with TWO FINGERS.

Here's an audio example:

How do we end the piece?

This ending is indicated with one long whistle, and possibly a fist in the air.

The Repenique then plays the key rhythm and the ensemble makes one, final hit.

Here's an audio example: