Maracatu: Brazilian type of Music

This kind of the music is played mainly in the Recife and Olinda regions during the carnival; it is an Afro-Brazilian tradition. The music serves as the background for the parade orchastras that evolved out of the ceremonies which is conducted during the colonial period in the honour of the kings of Congo, who were the African slaves occupying a symbolic leadership positions among the slave population. The music played on a large alfaia drum, a large metal gongue bells, snare drums and shakers. A significant alternative is found around the Fortaleza, Ceara (which is maracatu cearense), which is different form the Recife/Olinda culture in several ways, the triangles are used instead of the gongues, surdos, or zambumbas instead of alfaias, and also the significant of the female characters are performed cross-dressed male performers and all the African and Afro-Brazilian personages are performed in using the blackface makeup.

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