THE ARTISANAL MANUFACTURE OF THE PIANO, CHICO AND REPIQUE DRUMS AND ITS IMPORTANCE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE MUSICAL AND CULTURAL TRADITION OF THE AFROURUGUAYAN CANDOMBE

Abstract

The article presents the artisanal processes of making the tambores piano, chico and repique as important parts of the knowledge system that permeates the musical and cultural tradition of Afro-Uruguayan candombe. Initially, the text presents the material properties that make up the structure of the tambores, on which an adequate understanding of their sound expression depends. Afterwards, the text highlights the traditional techniques of making the drums, from the choice of wood and leather, to the traditional ways of giving life to the instruments, including the replacement of leather and permanent repairs. Finally, the article shows that knowledge of the techniques of making and maintaining Uruguayan drums, as well as the ways of dealing with their material properties as living organisms (INGOLD, 2015), enables the construction of affinities between people and drums. This affinity is translated into the analytical category proper to candombera cosmology, the “person-drum” (RAMÍREZ, 2008; FERREIRA, 1999; PLASTINO, 2013; MOURA, 2021). Understanding this relationship is indispensable for the practice and dissemination of candombe to be in tune with the ways of knowing how Afro-Uruguayan communities work.