Bongo drums are made up of two drums, one larger and one smaller, that are joined together. They’re especially important in Latin music, particularly music from Cuba. Despite the fact that these drums are often attributed to Cuba, there are variations in Africa, particularly Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries. They differ from Cuban drums in that the bases are usually ceramic rather than wooden.
Bongo drums are usually made of wood or metal and can be tuned tightening the skin over the drum. The size of the drums varies depending on the player’s preferences, but there is almost always a size difference between them. They are held between the knees and tapped with the fingers when being played. They can also be played with brushes on occasion.
The two drums are each given a name: hembra for the larger one and macho for the smaller one, which are Spanish terms for female and male, respectively. Hembra has a lower tone than macho, but both are significantly louder than the much larger conga drums used in Latin and African music.
In the late 1800s, bongo drums became very popular. Son was the name given to music that included drums and inspired the dance forms salsa, mambo, and rumba. The music grew in popularity as these dances grew in popularity.
It’s fascinating to watch a skilled musician play the bongos. To capture the staccato and quick rhythms of the music, the hands must move extremely quickly. The player’s hands can move so quickly during drum solos that they appear to blur with the motions.
The musician will usually specialize in various percussion instruments, though a bongocerro is a musician who plays the bongo drums. Willie Bobo, who frequently records with Tito Puente, is one of hundreds of successful bongocerros. Frank Colon has played with a variety of bands, including Manhattan Transfer and Airto. His music has also been used solo artists such as Mary J. Blige and Herbie Hancock.
Nils Fischer is a bongo player who has become increasingly popular in recent years. He lives and works in Holland, where Latin music is becoming increasingly popular, and he is also a teacher at the Rotterdam Conservatorium, where he is helping to spread the genre.