- Agogô
An agogô (meaning gong or bell in Yoruba) is a single or multiple bell now used throughout the world but with origins in traditional
Yoruba music and also in thesamba "bateria s" (percussion ensembles). The agogô may be the oldestsamba instrument and was based on West African Yoruba single or double bells. The agogô has the highest pitch of any of the bateria instruments.Construction
The African agogô bell is also called the gangkogui or gonkogui. It is made of metal with each bell a different size. This allows a differently pitched note to be produced depending on which bell has been hit. Originally wrought iron, they are now manufactured in a variety of metals and sizes for different sound qualities. The most common arrangement is two bells attached by a U shaped piece of metal. The smaller bell is held uppermost. Either bell may be hit with a wooden stick to make a cow-bell like sound or less commonly a clicking sound is produced by squeezing the two bells together.
Religious origins
It is used in the ceremonial music of religions in Yorubaland as well as in their new world practice, which are based on beliefs brought by slaves from Africa such as
candomblé . It may be officially used for congregation or heralding the coming of a dignitary. It is the main instrument ofObatala and Orisa Nla (Orisa Nla o, Alagogo Oje o). (BothObatala and Orisa n la are very important Yoruba deities or gods).Use of agogô bells
David Byrne,
lead singer of1980 s and1990 s rock bandTalking Heads , has used the agogô on various albums and live in concert. Also, agogô bells play a distinctive role withindrummer Neil Peart 's solos during his live performances with the band Rush. A good example can be heard on 'Light My Candle' from the 1996 musical 'RENT'.References
* [http://www.pps.k12.or.us/depts-c/mc-me/be-af-mu.pdf African and African-American Contributions to World Music] (PDF)
External links
* [http://www.brasilando.com/index.php?cPath=65_85 Agogo (Brasilando.com)]
* [http://www.xs4all.nl/~marcelo/music/sound/ Bateria Sounds]
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