Cabasa

Cabasa

A metal afuche-cabasa
Percussion instrument
Classification

Percussion
Hornbostel–Sachs classification 112.1
(Shaken idiophones or rattles The player executes a shaking motion)
Inventor(s) Martin Cohen
Developed Modern version 1960s, based on a traditional instrument of the same name
Builders

Latin Percussion, Meinl Percussion, many others

The cabasa, similar to the shekere, is a percussion instrument that is constructed with loops of steel ball chain wrapped around a wide cylinder. The cylinder is fixed to a long, narrow wooden or plastic handle.

The cabasa of gourd was originally of African origin, and constructed from dried oval- or pear-shaped gourds with beads strung on the outer surface. The metal cabasa was created by Martin Cohen, founder of Latin Percussion. This company have built a more durable cabasa that they call an afuche-cabasa (pictured). It provides a metallic, rattling sound when shaken or twisted, similar to the sound of a rattlesnake. It is often used in Latin jazz, especially in bossa nova pieces. Precise rhythmic effects can be gained by the advanced player. The player places his non-dominant hand on the metal chain, to provide pressure, while holding the wooden handle with the other hand and twisting the instrument back and forth as per the rhythmic pattern desired. In addition to Latin music, many band and orchestra pieces call for the cabasa.

The instrument is frequently used in music therapy, particularly with individuals who have physical/neurological disabilities as it requires minimal hand movement to produce a sound. The sound produced by the individual can then be reinforced by the music therapist, which builds neurological connections between hand movement and hearing the sound, in turn encouraging more fluent hand movements.

Modern adaptions

Modern adaptions of this instrument include Meinl Percussion foot pedal.

Users

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cabasa / Afuché.

This article needs to be categorised in a subcategory of Category:Percussion instruments by means of sound production

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, May 01, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.