Bongo: description of the instrument, design, history of origin, use

The bongo is the national instrument of the Cubans. Used in Cuban and Latin American music.

What is a bongo

Class – percussion musical instrument, idiophone. Has African origin.

The percussionist, while playing, clamps the structure with his feet, and extracts the sound with his hands. Usually the Cuban drum is played while seated.

An interesting fact: the Kuban researcher Fernando Ortiz believes that the name “bongo” comes from the language of the Bantu peoples with a slight change. The word “mbongo” means “drum” in the Bantu language.

Tool design

Bongo drums have a similar construction to other percussion idiophones. The hollow body is made of wood. A membrane is stretched over the cutout, which vibrates when struck, creating a sound. Modern membranes are made from a special type of plastic. On the side of the structure there may be metal fasteners and decorations.

Drum shells vary in size. The big one is called embra. Located to the right of the musician. Reduced is called macho. Located on the left. The tuning was originally low for use as an accompanying rhythm section. Modern players tune the drum higher. The high tuning makes the bongo look like a solo instrument.

History of origin

The exact information on how the bongo may have come about is unknown. The first documented use dates back to the XNUMXth century in Cuba.

Most sources of Afro-Cuban history claim that the bongo is based on drums from Central Africa. A significant number of Africans from the Congo and Angola living in northern Cuba confirm this version. Kongo’s influence can also be seen in the Cuban musical genres son and changui. The Cubans modified the design of the African drum and invented the bongo. The researchers describe the process as “an African idea, a Cuban invention.”

The invention entered Cuban popular music as a key instrument at the beginning of the 1930th century. He influenced the popularity of sleep groups. In the 1940s the skill of drummers increased. Clemente Pichiero’s playing inspired the future virtuoso Mongo Santamaria. In the XNUMXs, Santamaria became a master of the instrument, performing compositions with Sonora Matansera, Arsenio Rodriguez and the Lecuona Cuban Boys. Arsenio Rodriguez later pioneered the musical style of kojunto.

The Cuban invention appeared in the US in the 1940s. The pioneers were Armando Peraza, Chino Pozo and Rogelio Darias. New York’s Latin music scene was primarily made up of Puerto Ricans with previous contact with Cubans.