Some lesser-known percussion instruments
After so many centuries of history, Latin music has undergone any number of transformations and mixes that have made it into the wonder that it is today. In the result, percussion instruments play a critical role and many of them are widely known by fans of Latin rhythms, including those who do not have a great deal of expertise on the issue. The thing is that many of these implements are not so well known to people, so let us mention a few of them with their main characteristics.
Arará
The Arará drums are named after a Cuban ethnic group that is mainly based in Havana and the province of Matanzas. In turn, they descend from other ethnic groups that had similar practices and today almost all their temples are located in Matanzas.
At present, these drums are still used in the rituals of these cults. They are of various sizes and types, but a common characteristic they share is that they are all unimenbranophone and open without exception. One of the things that most identifies them is the presence of ritual marks made to differentiate them.
Rain stick
This percussion instrument consists of a long tube inside which you can find seeds and bamboo sticks, which form a helicoid extended throughout the whole instrument. When this stick is moved, the seeds hit its walls and the sound produced is very similar to that of the falling rain, a characteristic of which it receives its name.
It is believed that it originated during the age of indigenous peoples in South America such as the Panatahuas, the Quitos, the Mexicas, among many others. On the other hand, it is worth noting the appearance of evidence to suggest that they may have come from pre-Inca cultures originating in the Peruvian coast and the Andes Mountain Range.
Although the tools used in its manufacture vary from one cultural tradition to another, the most common material is cactus, whose spines must be dried, ground and reintroduced.
Güira
This is a Dominican percussion instrument that is part of the idiophones. Although it has come to be popular in other places, it is in the Dominican Republic where it originated and became so famous that it is even considered as a national heritage. For many, it has a strong resemblance to the bangaño, but it is very different from this one, since it has a manufacturing process in which metal predominates.
In these times, it is very common to see it being used as an important part of musical genres such as bachata and merengue, although it is most likely fans have no idea about its existence.
Marimbula
The marimbula consists of a set of metal plates that attach to a resonance box and whose main purpose is to produce sounds. It is an idiophone instrument that holds a striking resemblance to the sanza, which originated in Africa many centuries ago and arrived to the American continent from the hand of the slaves, who already brought their own traditions from their places of origin.
As to its current use, it serves as an accompaniment to all kinds of musical groups in their shows, whether we are talking about rural or urban environments. However, it should be noted that its use has also spread to religious ceremonies and cults of various kinds.
If you want more info about this topic: The seeds of capacho give the sound to maracas
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