Mozambique (music)
Encyclopedia
Mozambique is a vigorous style of Cuban music and dance
derived, like the conga
, from music of Cuban street carnivals or comparsa
s. It was invented or developed by Pello el Afrokan (Pedro Izquierdo) in 1963. Below: Cuban-style mozambique bell pattern
with rumba clave in 2-3 clave (rhythm)
sequence.
Mozambique features many Africa
n instruments
, including many different types of drum
, as well as the traditional Cuba
n conga drums and trombones.
The style made its début in 1963, in Havana
, on the television
programme Ritmos de Juventud, with the presenter surrounded by drummers so in tune with each other that they created a piano
-like sound, while simultaneously performing the mozambique dance, which consists of bending the knee
and lowering the body at the same time as lifting up a foot while returning the body to its normal upright position, continuing to bend the knees, lowering the body and lifting alternate feet as quickly and vigorously as possible. The mozambique peaked in 1965, when Pello took a group to the Olympics in Paris, then was quickly discarded. Apparently, it needed 16 drums to work properly...
Pello's composition, "María Caracoles" was recorded by Carlos Santana
and sold hugely.
In New York City during the 1960s Eddie Palmieri
created a rhythm called mozambique that was inspired by Pello's creation of the same name. While both rhythms are based on conga de comparsa, they are in fact, two separate distinct rhythms that do not share any common parts. The bell pattern used in Palmieri's rhythm was first played by his timbalero Julito Collazo
and later by Manny Oquendo
, who came to be closely associated with the timbales
part. The NY mozambique bell was later adopted by drumset players in North American jazz and popular music. For example, drummer Steve Gadd
can be heard playing the NY mozambique bell part on drumset (cymbal) during Paul Simon
's song "Late in the Evening".
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
derived, like the conga
Conga (music)
Conga music is a style of Cuban music used to dance Conga. The most known Conga song is "Conga" of Gloria Estefan.-Parodies:*In Sesame Street, this type of music is titled "The Monster Clubhouse Conga" where the purple monster with pigtails named Googel, green monster Phoebe and blue monster Mel...
, from music of Cuban street carnivals or comparsa
Comparsa
A comparsa is the band which plays a conga during a Latin American Carnival celebration. It consists of a large group of dancers dancing and traveling on the streets, followed by a Carrosa where the musicians play...
s. It was invented or developed by Pello el Afrokan (Pedro Izquierdo) in 1963. Below: Cuban-style mozambique bell pattern
Bell pattern
A bell pattern is a rhythmic pattern, often a key pattern , performed on metal bells such as an agogô, gankoqui, cowbell or similar percussion instruments such as the metal shell of the timbales or drum kit cymbal.-sub-Saharan African music:The use of iron bells in sub-Saharan African music is...
with rumba clave in 2-3 clave (rhythm)
Clave (rhythm)
The clave rhythmic pattern is used as a tool for temporal organization in Afro-Cuban music, such as rumba, conga de comparsa, son, son montuno, mambo, salsa, Latin jazz, songo and timba. The five-stroke clave pattern represents the structural core of many Afro-Cuban rhythms...
sequence.
Mozambique features many Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
, including many different types of drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
, as well as the traditional Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n conga drums and trombones.
The style made its début in 1963, in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, on the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
programme Ritmos de Juventud, with the presenter surrounded by drummers so in tune with each other that they created a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
-like sound, while simultaneously performing the mozambique dance, which consists of bending the knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
and lowering the body at the same time as lifting up a foot while returning the body to its normal upright position, continuing to bend the knees, lowering the body and lifting alternate feet as quickly and vigorously as possible. The mozambique peaked in 1965, when Pello took a group to the Olympics in Paris, then was quickly discarded. Apparently, it needed 16 drums to work properly...
Pello's composition, "María Caracoles" was recorded by Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
and sold hugely.
In New York City during the 1960s Eddie Palmieri
Eddie Palmieri
Eddie Palmieri , is a Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican pianist, bandleader and musician, best known for combining jazz piano and instrumental solos with Latin rhythms.-Early years:...
created a rhythm called mozambique that was inspired by Pello's creation of the same name. While both rhythms are based on conga de comparsa, they are in fact, two separate distinct rhythms that do not share any common parts. The bell pattern used in Palmieri's rhythm was first played by his timbalero Julito Collazo
Julito Collazo
Julio "Julito" Collazo was a master percussionist.Collazo was born in Havana, Cuba. He began playing the ritual music of Santería on the batá drums at the age of fifteen. He moved to United States in the fifties to join in a world tour with the Afroamerican dancer Katherine Dunham and her Dance...
and later by Manny Oquendo
Manny Oquendo
Manny Oquendo was an American percussionist. His main instrument was the timbales, and was strongly influenced by Cuban drumming.Oquendo grew up in New York, and began studying percussion in 1945...
, who came to be closely associated with the timbales
Timbales
Timbales are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba. They are shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned...
part. The NY mozambique bell was later adopted by drumset players in North American jazz and popular music. For example, drummer Steve Gadd
Steve Gadd
Steve Gadd is an American session and studio drummer, notable for his work with popular musicians from a wide range of genres.-Biography:...
can be heard playing the NY mozambique bell part on drumset (cymbal) during Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
's song "Late in the Evening".