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Batuque (music)
Encyclopedia
The batuque is a music and dance genre from Cape Verde
.
, a 6/8 or 3/4 measure
and traditionally it is just melodic
, i.e., it is just sung, it has no polyphonic
accompaniment. When compared with the other musical genres from Cape Verde, the batuque has a call and response
structure, and it is the only genre that is polyrhythm
ic. In fact, analyzing the rhythm
, one finds out that it is a 3-beat
rhythm over a 2-beat rhythm.
In its traditional form, the batuque is organized as if it were an orchestral crescendo
. It possesses two movements
(if we may call them like so):
In older times the music began with an introduction on the cimboa
that provided the base musical line. Nowadays the usage of that instrument is extinct. The first movement is called, in Creole, galion [ɡɐliˈõ]. In this movement one of the performers (called batukaderas [bɐtukɐˈdeɾɐs]) executes a polyrhythmic hit, while the others execute a 2-beat hit, clapping hands or slapping a cloth. The lead singer (called kantadera proféta [kɐ̃tɐˈdeɾɐ pɾoˈfɛtɐ]) sings a verse that is immediately repeated (called ronca baxon [ˈʀõkɐ bɐˈʃõ]) in unison
by the remaining singers (called kantaderas di kunpanha [kɐ̃tɐˈdeɾɐs di kũˈpaɲɐ]). These verses, improvised proverbs that talk about a variety of subjects such as praising personalities, social criticism, quotidian scenes, are called finason [finɐˈsõ]. This call and response structure goes on until the second movement.
The second movement is called txabéta [tʃɐˈbɛtɐ]. This movement corresponds to an orchestral climax
in which all the players execute the same polyrhythmic beat, and all the singers sing the same verse in unison that works as a refrain
.
Nowadays, recent composers have composed the batuque in a different way. The music leans on a polyphonic support (chord
sequences), and shows a similar structure to the other musical genres in Cape Verde, in which the musical strophes alternate with a refrain.
In a batuque session, a group of performers (almost always just women) gather themselves in a circle in a scenario that is called terreru [teˈʀeɾu]. This scenario does not have to be a precise location, it may be a back yard in a house or it may be a public square, for instance.
The musical piece begins with the players (that may be simultaneously or not batukaderas and kantaderas) executing the first movement, while one of the players goes to the center to perform the dance. In this first movement the dance is made only with body swinging, with an alternate movement of the legs playing the downbeat.
In the second movement, while the players perform the rhythm and sing in unison, the dancer changes the dancing. Now, the dancing (called da ku tornu [dɐ ku ˈtoɾnu]) is made with a hip swing managed through the quick flexion of the knees, accompanying the rhythm.
When the song is over, the dancer pulls back and another takes her place, and a new song begins. These performings may last for hours until the end of the batuque session.
, however, there are clues that it existed in all the islands of Cape Verde..
According to Carlos Gonçalves, the batuque is not a musical genre that originated in the African continent. It would be an adaptation of some African dance (which one?) that later has developed its own characteristics in Cape Verde.
The Portuguese administration and the Church have always hostilized the batuque, because it was considered “African”, but during the policy of Estado Novo this hostilization was stronger. The batuque has even been forbidden in urban centers, and it managed to be a dying musical genre from the fifties.
After the independence there has been an interest in the revival of some musical genres. But it is in the nineties that the batuque has experienced a true rebirth with young composers (such as Orlando Pantera, Tcheka
, Vadú
) doing research work and giving a new form to the batuque, being sung by also young singers (such as Lura
, Mayra Andrade
, Nancy Vieira).
Nowadays the batuque has lost its original meaning. It has been transformed in a stage performance, and it is performed in official acts, in parties or it is used by some groups to give an example of Cape Verdean folklore.
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
.
As a music genre
As a music genre, the batuque is characterized by having an andante tempoTempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
, a 6/8 or 3/4 measure
Bar (music)
In musical notation, a bar is a segment of time defined by a given number of beats of a given duration. Typically, a piece consists of several bars of the same length, and in modern musical notation the number of beats in each bar is specified at the beginning of the score by the top number of a...
and traditionally it is just melodic
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
, i.e., it is just sung, it has no polyphonic
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
accompaniment. When compared with the other musical genres from Cape Verde, the batuque has a call and response
Call and response (music)
In music, a call and response is a succession of two distinct phrases usually played by different musicians, where the second phrase is heard as a direct commentary on or response to the first...
structure, and it is the only genre that is polyrhythm
Polyrhythm
Polyrhythm is the simultaneous sounding of two or more independent rhythms.Polyrhythm in general is a nonspecific term for the simultaneous occurrence of two or more conflicting rhythms, of which cross-rhythm is a specific and definable subset.—Novotney Polyrhythms can be distinguished from...
ic. In fact, analyzing the rhythm
Rhythm
Rhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
, one finds out that it is a 3-beat
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
rhythm over a 2-beat rhythm.
Dynamics (music)
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
. It possesses two movements
Movement (music)
A movement is a self-contained part of a musical composition or musical form. While individual or selected movements from a composition are sometimes performed separately, a performance of the complete work requires all the movements to be performed in succession...
(if we may call them like so):
In older times the music began with an introduction on the cimboa
Cimboa
The cimboa , also known as the cimbó , is a musical instrument from Cape Verde. It is a bowed chordophone that was traditionally used to be played with the batuque dances....
that provided the base musical line. Nowadays the usage of that instrument is extinct. The first movement is called, in Creole, galion [ɡɐliˈõ]. In this movement one of the performers (called batukaderas [bɐtukɐˈdeɾɐs]) executes a polyrhythmic hit, while the others execute a 2-beat hit, clapping hands or slapping a cloth. The lead singer (called kantadera proféta [kɐ̃tɐˈdeɾɐ pɾoˈfɛtɐ]) sings a verse that is immediately repeated (called ronca baxon [ˈʀõkɐ bɐˈʃõ]) in unison
Unison
In music, the word unison can be applied in more than one way. In general terms, it may refer to two notes sounding the same pitch, often but not always at the same time; or to the same musical voice being sounded by several voices or instruments together, either at the same pitch or at a distance...
by the remaining singers (called kantaderas di kunpanha [kɐ̃tɐˈdeɾɐs di kũˈpaɲɐ]). These verses, improvised proverbs that talk about a variety of subjects such as praising personalities, social criticism, quotidian scenes, are called finason [finɐˈsõ]. This call and response structure goes on until the second movement.
The second movement is called txabéta [tʃɐˈbɛtɐ]. This movement corresponds to an orchestral climax
Climax
- Common general uses :* Climax * Climax * Climax community* Climax vegetation in an ecosystem* Sexual climax, another term for orgasm- Brand names and titles :* The Climax, a 1944 film...
in which all the players execute the same polyrhythmic beat, and all the singers sing the same verse in unison that works as a refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
.
Nowadays, recent composers have composed the batuque in a different way. The music leans on a polyphonic support (chord
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
sequences), and shows a similar structure to the other musical genres in Cape Verde, in which the musical strophes alternate with a refrain.
As a dance
As a dance, the traditional batuque follows a precise ritual.In a batuque session, a group of performers (almost always just women) gather themselves in a circle in a scenario that is called terreru [teˈʀeɾu]. This scenario does not have to be a precise location, it may be a back yard in a house or it may be a public square, for instance.
The musical piece begins with the players (that may be simultaneously or not batukaderas and kantaderas) executing the first movement, while one of the players goes to the center to perform the dance. In this first movement the dance is made only with body swinging, with an alternate movement of the legs playing the downbeat.
In the second movement, while the players perform the rhythm and sing in unison, the dancer changes the dancing. Now, the dancing (called da ku tornu [dɐ ku ˈtoɾnu]) is made with a hip swing managed through the quick flexion of the knees, accompanying the rhythm.
When the song is over, the dancer pulls back and another takes her place, and a new song begins. These performings may last for hours until the end of the batuque session.
History
The batuque is probably the oldest musical genre in Cape Verde, but there are written records of it only from the 19th century. Presently it is found only in SantiagoSantiago, Cape Verde
Santiago , or Santiagu in Cape Verdean Creole, is the largest island of Cape Verde, its most important agricultural centre and home to half the nation’s population. At the time of Darwin's voyage it was called St. Jago....
, however, there are clues that it existed in all the islands of Cape Verde..
According to Carlos Gonçalves, the batuque is not a musical genre that originated in the African continent. It would be an adaptation of some African dance (which one?) that later has developed its own characteristics in Cape Verde.
The Portuguese administration and the Church have always hostilized the batuque, because it was considered “African”, but during the policy of Estado Novo this hostilization was stronger. The batuque has even been forbidden in urban centers, and it managed to be a dying musical genre from the fifties.
After the independence there has been an interest in the revival of some musical genres. But it is in the nineties that the batuque has experienced a true rebirth with young composers (such as Orlando Pantera, Tcheka
Tcheka
Tcheka is a capeverdean singer, songwriter and guitarist, who is well-known for his work in modernising Batuque. -BiographyExternal links:* * *...
, Vadú
Vadu
Vadu may refer to several villages in Romania:* Vadu, a village in Corbu Commune, Constanţa County* Vadu, a village in Sântămăria-Orlea Commune, Hunedoara County* Vadu, a village in Vărgata Commune, Mureş County...
) doing research work and giving a new form to the batuque, being sung by also young singers (such as Lura
Lura
Lura may refer to:*Lura *Lura, Tibet, a village in Tibet*Lura, Norway, a borough in Norway*Lurë, a municipality in Albania*Lura Mountain, a mountain range in Albania...
, Mayra Andrade
Mayra Andrade
Mayra Andrade is a Cape Verdean singer who lives and records in Paris, France.Andrade was born in Cuba but grew up in Senegal, Angola, and Germany. However, she spent around two months of the year in the Cape Verdean island of Santiago...
, Nancy Vieira).
Meaning
In ancient times the batuque had a precise social meaning. It was performed in holy days, in certain ceremonial occasions, in feasts, before and during weddings. There are some scholars who speculate that the dance movement of the batuque has a sexual meaning and the goal was to promote the fertility of the bride.Nowadays the batuque has lost its original meaning. It has been transformed in a stage performance, and it is performed in official acts, in parties or it is used by some groups to give an example of Cape Verdean folklore.
External links
- Hunting for Traditional Music in Cape Verde - Culture Story hosted by The Glimpse Foundation
- Breves Apontamentos sobre as Formas Musicais existentes em Cabo Verde in pdf - In Portuguese
- Batuku - Has pictures of a batuque session.
- Música e Cabo-verdianos em Lisboa - In Portuguese