Berimbau (Guy
Mendilow):Berimbau da Barriga (jaw harp of the stomach) was
the Portuguese name given to this musical bow brought to Brazil by African slaves
and found in indigenous communities already in the land. It is one in a long list
of names. Nearly all cultures that have used bows and arrows have also adapted
them for musical purposes, and musical bows are found worldwide, from Mexico and
Patagonia to South Africa, Angola and Camaroon, from India and Nepal to Japan
and Greece. The Brazilian ‘bow’ is made from Biriba wood. “The
string comes from the inside of a car tire. A dried and cleaned out gourd is tied
around the string and bow to amplify the sound. The right hand strikes the string
with a stick while simultaneously playing a shaker called caxixi. The left hand
presses a coin or stone against the string to change the pitch.” (N.
Scott Robinson)
