A maraca (pronunciation (help·info)), sometimes called shaker or chac-chac,[1] is a rattle which appears in many genres of Caribbean and Latin music. It is shaken by a handle and usually played as part of a pair.
Maracas (from Guaranímbaracás),[2] also known as tamaracas, were rattles of divination, an oracle of the Brazilian Tupinamba people, found also with other Indigenous ethnic groups, such as the Guarani, Orinoco and in Florida. Rattles made from Lagenaria gourds are being shaken by the natural grip, while the round Crescentia calabash fruits are fitted to a handle.[3] Human hair is sometimes fastened on the top, and a slit is cut in it to represent a mouth, through which their shamans (payes) made it utter its responses. A few pebbles are inserted to make it rattle and it is crowned with the red feathers of the guarás (scarlet ibis). Every man had his maraca. It was used at their dances and to heal the sick.[4] Andean curanderos (healers) use maracas in their healing rites.[5]
Modern maraca balls are also made of leather, wood or plastic.[6]
A maraca used by the knights of Toritos de Chichicastenango, danced for the feast of Saint Thomas, around December 21. Each maraca is unique and made specially for each year
References
^Mendes, John (1976). Cote ce Cote la: Trinidad and Tobago Dictionary. Arima, Trinidad: Syncreators. p. 135.
^Antonio Ruiz de Montoya (1876), "Mbaracá", Vocabulario y tesoro de la lengua Guarani (ó mas bien Tupi), vol. 2, Frick, p. 212b
^Robert Southey (1810), History of Brazil, vol. 1, Longman & Hurst, pp. 187–188, 635 Note: guarás is spelled idiosyncratically as "goaraz" in this historical source.
^Federico Kauffmann Doig (2005), "SOUTH AMERICAN INDIANS: INDIANS OF THE ANDES IN THE PRE-INCA PERIOD", in Lindsay Jones (ed.), Encyclopedia of Religion, vol. 13 (2nd ed.), Gale, pp. 8599–8605, ISBN0-02-865982-1
^Blades, James (1992). Percussion instruments and their history (Rev. ed.). Westport, Conn.: Bold Strummer. ISBN0-933224-61-3.
External links
Media related to Maracas at Wikimedia Commons
January 31, 2023
maraca, other, uses, disambiguation, confused, with, marraco, morocco, maraca, pronunciation, help, info, sometimes, called, shaker, chac, chac, rattle, which, appears, many, genres, caribbean, latin, music, shaken, handle, usually, played, part, pair, percuss. For other uses see Maraca disambiguation Not to be confused with Marraco or Morocco A maraca pronunciation help info sometimes called shaker or chac chac 1 is a rattle which appears in many genres of Caribbean and Latin music It is shaken by a handle and usually played as part of a pair MaracaPercussion instrumentClassificationPercussionHornbostel Sachs classification112 1 Shaken idiophones or rattles Related instrumentsShekereMusiciansMachito MonguitoBuildersLP PercussionSound sample source source Maracas from Guarani mbaracas 2 also known as tamaracas were rattles of divination an oracle of the Brazilian Tupinamba people found also with other Indigenous ethnic groups such as the Guarani Orinoco and in Florida Rattles made from Lagenaria gourds are being shaken by the natural grip while the round Crescentia calabash fruits are fitted to a handle 3 Human hair is sometimes fastened on the top and a slit is cut in it to represent a mouth through which their shamans payes made it utter its responses A few pebbles are inserted to make it rattle and it is crowned with the red feathers of the guaras scarlet ibis Every man had his maraca It was used at their dances and to heal the sick 4 Andean curanderos healers use maracas in their healing rites 5 Modern maraca balls are also made of leather wood or plastic 6 A maraca player in Spanish is a maraquero Gallery Edit Robert Plant playing two pairs of maracas Guarani shaman holding cross and maraca A maraca used by the knights of Toritos de Chichicastenango danced for the feast of Saint Thomas around December 21 Each maraca is unique and made specially for each yearReferences Edit Mendes John 1976 Cote ce Cote la Trinidad and Tobago Dictionary Arima Trinidad Syncreators p 135 Antonio Ruiz de Montoya 1876 Mbaraca Vocabulario y tesoro de la lengua Guarani o mas bien Tupi vol 2 Frick p 212b Julian H Steward ed 1948 Handbook of South American Indians vol 3 U S Government Printing Office pp 43 129 238 Robert Southey 1810 History of Brazil vol 1 Longman amp Hurst pp 187 188 635 Note guaras is spelled idiosyncratically as goaraz in this historical source Federico Kauffmann Doig 2005 SOUTH AMERICAN INDIANS INDIANS OF THE ANDES IN THE PRE INCA PERIOD in Lindsay Jones ed Encyclopedia of Religion vol 13 2nd ed Gale pp 8599 8605 ISBN 0 02 865982 1 Blades James 1992 Percussion instruments and their history Rev ed Westport Conn Bold Strummer ISBN 0 933224 61 3 External links Edit Media related to Maracas at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maraca amp oldid 1134415279, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
