Samba

Learn about Samba, it’s history and the different elements that involved. Then create your own Samba band at home and have a carnival!!!! Samba originates in Brazil and revolves around the carnivals in Rio de Janeiro. It involves lively music, mainly percussion, dancing, extravagant costumes and amazing floats. Watch this clip to see a Rio Carnival https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ztLCSwg6k0 This clip gives you a bit more history on the Brazilian Samba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x0OnpybNxA&t=1s One of the main elements of Samba is dance so watch this clip from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ to see the ballroom version of Samba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03aJ8qOqo2Q And of course music is very important so here is an example of a Samba Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQLvGghaDbE

Carnivals take place all around the world so we are going to look at some closer to home: Notting Hill Carnival • The most famous of British carnivals • Originated in 1964 as a way for the West Indian community in the UK to

celebrate their traditions and culture • Began in the summer of 1958 in West London when racial tensions grew in the Afro-Caribbean

community • Riots went of for 3 days with over 100 people getting arrested • In 1959, human rights activist, Claudia Jones organised an indoor Caribbean carnival • 50 years on the festival still attracts up to 2 million visitors a year from all

over the world

Notting Hill Carnival

is the 2nd biggest

festival in the world!

It is 11 times bigger than Glastonbury Festival!

Every year 150,000 costumes are handmade!

The costumes take over 1 million hours

to make!

The main message is breaking free from slavery

and racism!

St Paul’s Carnival • It began in 1968 • Since then it has grown in size and reputation to become

one of Bristol’s biggest attractions • It includes people from all generations • It is a celebration of Afro Caribbean culture • Every float, every stage, every performer and

every person tells a story • That story is how music, dance and community

can bring people together Here is a clip showing the highlights of last year’s 50th anniversary carnival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOQfSeqYp2U

You may have joined in with the Bath Carnival last year! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nokv5H2owiE

These carnivals can’t happen this year so we’re going to have our own carnivals at home! You are going to start with finding or making your own versions of the instruments used in a Samba band:

Samba Instruments Try to find or make your own versions of these instruments that can be found in the Samba band: • Surdo

Biggest

Come in many different tones

Played with beaters

Highly decorated for

carnivals

Made from wood or

aluminium

Attached by a belt or

harness

Surdo Provides the bass line for

samba grooves

• Caixa Casha

• Agogo

Caixa Casha

Drives the groove

Plays fast, repetitive rhythms Played with

2 sticks Basically a

snare drum Attached by a

belt around the waist

Agogo

The only melodic instrument in

Samba

Have two connected bells with different

tones

Made out of metal

Hit with a stick

One of the oldest instruments in

the world

• Tambourim

• Chocalho

Tambourim

Can make different sounds

with the stick

Can dampen the sound with the

thumb

Small drum

Played very fast

Chocalho

Contains rows carrying pairs of

jingles Helps sustain the

rhythm

A shaker

Costume You need to look the part so wear some bright clothing and perhaps make a colourful headdress. Here is a good clip to give you an idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SldDRZrSrxo

Samba Batucada Samba Batucada is a carnival rhythm from the streets of Rio De Janeiro. Its infectious beat sustains the entire nation of Brasil. Mrs Adams has created her own Samba carnival at home, demonstrates all of the rhythms you need, so watch the video below, learn the rhythms and enjoy

https://youtu.be/4bI26VsAeU0 Recording Your Own Carnival Now try to record yourself to create your own Samba carnival: • Be dressed in carnival colours and headdresses • Try to be outside in the sunshine (socially distancing of course!) • Video record each layer of rhythm with your instruments • Make sure you listen to your first layer with your headphones on so that you can keep everything in time. • Put them together either in a movie maker or you can down load the ‘Acapella App’ which enables you to put it

all together. (Note this app offers a free 7 day trial, but then it does charge you!) • Now you have your own Samba Carnival!!

We can’t wait to see your Carnivals!!!

Appendix Here are the rhythms written out for each of the Samba Batcuda parts: