Comparsa

[KidCuba]

I was playing comparsa this week at a workshop here in Los Angeles.

The group got it down pretty good, and are planning to take it on the road for a festival.

My question is, when your actually performing a mobile comparsa - what do you do with the congas? I don't see myself being able to carry a modern conga or tumbadora on a strap for a few blocks while playing?

The bombos and bells are all mobile, but I am wondering how congas are tweaked or replaced?

Any suggestions?

[Jerry Bembe]

Most of these carnival drums are soft wood like pine. This cuts down on the wieght.

[KidCuba]

Thanks for the response Jerry.

Is there any particular conga model, available in the U.S., that you could recommend for a comparsa?

[JohnnyConga]

These are the drums used in the Conga Comparsa...they are long and conical and not as heavy as a tumbadora...

The bokú is a single-headed drum, skin nailed to the shell, shell open at one end, long, shaped like a conic section and made of staves with iron hoops that circle them and hold them together. They are heated with fire and played with both hands and no sticks. The musician or bokusero carries the drum on his left side, hung over the shoulder with a strap.” (Ortíz II 1952-5:34)
Nowadays, the skin is usually held on by a metal hardware system similar to that of the commercial conga drum. Anywhere from four to 16 bocuses are used in one conga (Brea and Millet 1993:179). The bocuses play simple interlocking parts with few variations (however, the sum of the parts results in quite a complex drum melody). A smaller bocú, called a quinto or bocusito, plays complex off-beat figures and improvisations. According to Ortíz, the bocú was adopted by the conga when African drums were banned in the early years of the Republic.

[JohnnyConga]

-galleta carnival.jpg (26.24 KiB) Viewed 3667 times

juan01Boku drum.jpg (30.27 KiB) Viewed 3667 times

[Jerry Bembe]

Most of these carnival drums are soft wood like pine. This cuts down on the wieght.

My mistake I was thinking of Uruguay Carnival Catdombe drums. These drums resemble congas but are not the same.

They are both carnival music of different types. I am a student still of various carnival music forms.

[JohnnyConga]

Do u mean this??....

[Jerry Bembe]

Yes. Nice picture. It is one of the best, I really like the carnival queen.

I have one of the middle drums and it is remarkably light. It is made of pine and 12".