Candombe music of Uruguay

Candombe has been also known by the UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Candombe derives from the Rio de la Plata, where the African slaves introduced their dances and drumming music. The term tango then means to the traditional drums and dances, as well as areas where dancing occurred. Candombe beats are produced by drum bands which are regarded as the cuerdas, which comprise the dozens of percussionists and features three drum sizes which include tambor piano, tambo repique and tambor chico regarded as tambores de candombe.

source of picture: upsidedownworld.org 

The famous candombe artists include the following artists such as Ruben Rada and Hugo Fattorus has been making an impact for long time for both the Uruguayan and Latin American music scene, which include as a member of the rock ensemble such as Los Shakers, and swing ensemble like The Hot Blowers, as well as Brazilain Milton Nascimento and the Latin jazz and Acid jazz orchestra known as Opa. During the 70s the United States of American most important Latin ensemble according to the publication down beat.

The Afro-Uruguayan beat of candombe has played an important impact in Uruguayan culture for over 200 years. The beat is formed by the use of the drums known as tambores; tambor piano, tambor chico and tambor repique. The piano is the biggest in size and lowest in tone of the three tambores. The beast base of the camdombe has the function similar with that of the upright or electric bass. The chico which is the smallest in size and the highest in tone of the three tambores, serving as the beat swing. The tambore repique, which is the ricochet embellishes candombe’s beat with improvised idioms. Each of the three tambores played with an open hand (mano) and also a stick, which is the palo from others. At a minimum, one of the three tambores must be present.

The cleanest type of the Candombe takes places at each Sunday night on the streets of Montevideo, where many of the drummers come to together, playing their drums under the moon lit sky. Isla de Flores is the major street that joins the Cuareim and Ansina which is the Candombe’s two major social orchestras. For over a century impulsive, cuerdas have marched on the street, and still doing so now (Isla de Flores is as recognized by its second name, Carlos Gardel). As the cureda gradually paves its way through the narrow streets of the Montevideo, this transmittable beat takes with it all in its route, surrounded by all the neighborhood people by moving bodies to the beat of the Candombe. The periods of the cureda will stop, and setting a fire will place which will heat their drum’s skins for tuning purposes.

Candome rhythm started during in late 60s with El Kinto, an ensemble featuring Ruben Rada and Eduardo Mateo. Appearing at the same period as Los Shakers they forged their own uniqueness with a little western influence. The rhythm of candombe made the beat; bossa nova played a big impact in its musical tones and structure, as the traditional Uruguayan traditional music. Mateo and Rada were also popular in the solo professions, and the music’s influence would play a big impact in the renowned music and Uruguayan rock. Totem (banda) was the most essential orchestra of Candombe beat during in the early 70s. Jaime Roos was one of the later advocates of the candombe beat whose fame in Uruguay started in the 70s and has remained through the 21^st century.