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Repinique
By: Meg Thomas
Last
month we had a brief introduction to Brazilian Percussion. This
month we are going to touch on the basics of the Repinique.
Discussed will be a description of the instrument, its role,
basic playing technique, and a few exercises.
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To start
things off the Repinique seems to be a difficult one to pronounce.
The 12"x12" drum is pronounced "hep-in-nek"
or "heh-pee-nee-kuh". The 12" deep by 10"
diameter drum is pronounced "hep-in-ee-key". The
drum is made of metal and has two heads (see picture above).
Traditionally it is worn on a sling over ones shoulder and
played standing. Of course, this instrument has now made it
into several genres of music and has been added to the drum
set and percussionist set-ups as well. When this is done it
is usually mounted on a snare stand. The repinique is commonly
played with a stick (usually in the right hand) and by hand
(usually with the left). There are some situations where two
lighter sticks are used. We are going to discuss the more
traditional approach of one stick and one hand.
The repinique
is commonly the lead instrument in a bateria, or samba group.
The drum plays the starting and ending cues as well as the
cue for the breaks. The repinique is also a solo instrument
itself. The playing technique consists of three main strokes
with the stick, hitting the drum head, rim shots, and rim.
The hand can play open, muffle, or slap tones. Open tones
are produced by hitting the drum with the hand and lifting
right away to achieve a ringing tone. The muffle tone is played
by simply leaving the hand on the head after striking the
head. The slap tone is a little more difficult to produce
and may require a teacher to demonstrate if you are not familiar
with the tone. It is a "popping" sound that is produced
by waving the fingers into the head of the drum and leaving
them on the drum. Much easier to show than to describe.
The following
is a basic exercise. All the R (right hand) notes will be
played with a stick and the L (left hand) note will be played
by hand. Mix the hand tones up. Try all open, then muffled,
then slap, and any combination of those tones.
KEY
These
are written below the staff.
R = right hand
L = left hand
These
are written above the staff.
H = hand
D = drum head
RS = rim shot
R = Rim
The Repinique
can be a very involved instrument and can require instruction
from a teacher depending on the application in which it is performed.
Hopefully this introduction is helpful on what the instrument
is, how it looks, the role it plays traditionally, and the basic
playing technique. Have fun with it and feel free to add it
to your drum set in a snare stand or maybe next to your timbales
in your percussion set-up. Study traditionally or do YOUR thing!
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Megan
Thomas, percussionist from Chicago, is an
active performer and teacher. She currently plays
percussion with Chicago-land's premier steel drum
band, OD TAPO IMI (www.odtapoimi.com),
as well as playing drum set with an all original rock
band from Chicago called Reptoids (www.reptoids.net).
She has played in numerous bands over the years, opening
up for acts ranging from Jimmy Buffet to Evil Beaver
to Foreigner to Johnny Clegg while playing in venues
from House of Blues to Alpine Valley to The Park West.
She has experience in a plethora of musical genres:
latin, pop, rock, blues, punk, fusion, latin-jazz,
salsa, world, folk, soca, calypso, classical, etc.
In addition to being an active performer, she plays
sessions at recording studios, performs with jobbing
bands, puts on world percussion seminars, facilitates
drum circles, writes for freemusiceducation.com
and chicagomusicguide.com,
and teaches private lessons at North Shore Music Institute.
Megan
Thomas
www.myspace.com/mtpercussion
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