MUSIC

Introduction | Song Lyrics

In Capoeira, the singing of songs and the playing of music is just as important as fighting or learning of the movements. To be a good capoeirista, one must be able to sing, play the instruments (berimbau, atabaque and pandeiro), know the movements, and participate in the Roda.

There are different types of Capoeira songs:

The Ladainha is used to start Angola rodas. It is either a prayer, salutation or story. Only the berimbaus and pandeiros play while the ladainha is being sung, the rest of the instruments come in as it concludes with 'Iê, viva meu deus'.

Quadras are songs consisting of four verses that are sung by the soloist and repeated by the chorus. These are some of the most common Capoeira songs used in both Angola and Regional.

Corridos are one or two-verse songs sung in the same solo & repeat fashion as Quadras. 

USE THE MUSIC PLAYER AT RIGHT TO SAMPLE THE VARIOUS TOQUES LISTED BELOW

Amazonas

A welcoming toque used to greet visiting Mestres and guests. It has no traditionally associated game. Currently developing a game that mimics the movements of Amazonian animals.
The basic: v-xv^.xx|v.v.^.xx

Angola

Considered the oldest and most traditional toque, a slow game with lots of ground movements, trickery and specific traditions.
xxv.^.s.
Where s = Shake the cachichi

Benguela

Is a medium paced game. In many schools played extremely close and with much deception. Some schools play this as a slower, safer Regional game.
The basic: xxv.^.^.

Cavalaria

Originally used to alert players that the police were coming, the toque imitates the galloping of horses (and some say it sounds like a police siren). Today it is used to warn players that a potentially hostile person has arrived at the roda.
v.xx|v.xx|v.xx|v.^.

Idalina

A rhythm used by Master Bimba for variation is a slow, but powerful game.
The basic: v.v/^s.v.v/^s|v/^/v/^/v.v/^.s

Iúna

A toque created by Mestre Bimba to mimic the Amazonian Iúna bird, it signals a medium paced game with emphasis almost entirely on acrobatics and usually played with ample distance between partners. Traditionally this game is only played by graduados (experienced students) and in many schools may only be played when a Mestre is present. There is no singing or hand clapping.

The pattern is very complicated. It usually switches between one of a set of variations and a repeated common measure:
The repeated measure is: v-xxv-v-
The variations include: v-xxv-v- (the same as the repeated measure) v-v-v-v- vvvvvvvv vvvvv-v- v.v.v.v.v. v-xv-xvx
This gives us something like this:
v-v-v-v-|v-xxv-v-|vvvvv-v-|v-xxv-v-|v-xxv-v-|v-xxv-v-|vvvvvvvv|v-xxv-v-

Samba de Roda

Frequently is played for capoeiristas after capoeira roda. Is used for rest, relax, with a dancing partner. In Roda of Samba, Capoeirista also their show abilities for samba rhythm.

Santa Maria

A quite beautiful toque used for the not much seen 'razor' game (which uses knives or razors attached to the feet) or the 'money' game where the players try to pick up a coin purse placed in the center of the roda with their mouths.

The rhythm is swung as in jazz so while it looks straight forward in the notation, the first, third and fifth notes in each measure are held longer than the others.
vvvvxx|vvv^xx|^^^^xx|^v^vxx

São Bento Grande

This is a very fast game played with ample movements. Leg sweeps and take downs are common in this game.
The basic: xx^.v.v.

São Bento Grande de Bimba

Often called São Bento grande de Regional or just Regional. Mestre Bimba’s fast, explosive, athletic capoeira created by him. Game seen often in exhibitions.
The basic: v.xx^.xx|v.v.^.xx

São Bento Pequeno de Angola

Also known as São Bento pequeno or Inverted Angola (because it switches the high and low notes of Angola). São Bento Pequeno is alayed as a contra-toque (an inversion of the gunga) by the médio berimbau while playing Angola.
The basic: xx^.v...