Rinie Coppelmans (left) and Murray Tonks are after people who like having fun, have a sense of rhythm and are prepared to make some noise.
Rinie Coppelmans (left) and Murray Tonks are after people who like having fun, have a sense of rhythm and are prepared to make some noise.
Rinie Copplemans and Murray Tonks have formed a batucada drumming group which holds its first meeting and practice session at 8.30pm today at the Pacific Surf-lifesaving clubrooms on Marine Parade, Napier.
Batucada, known for its catchy samba style rhythms, is an African-influenced style of drumming originating in Brazil, popular thereand elsewhere in South America where they are often seen performing in parades and at festivals.
New Zealand has its own batucada movement, with the Wellington Batucada Group, formed in 2001, the oldest. They have performed at the Hastings Blossom Festival in past years.
Sponsors have enabled the Napier Batucada Club to purchase an initial set of drums, including the distinctive giant surdos, light-weight aluminium base drums standing over half a metre high. Usually accompanying the surdos are the smaller repinique, a higher pitched stick-drum, snare drums, tamborims, which is a kind of stick tambourine, and a variety of rattles, bells and whistles.
The group plans to buy more drums, through club subscriptions, as demand requires. They are also counting on a few extra drums coming out of the woodwork as word gets around.
Past drumming experience would be useful, but not essential. "Although a decent sense of rhythm would be handy, for sure," Copplemans says.
Copplemans plays in a band and has been running djembe drumming workshops for several years, while Tonks first discovered batucada while he was working and studying Spanish in Valparaiso, Chile, 10 years ago. The batucada bands were part of the annual parading of the patron saints in Valparaiso. "I was struck by what a great sound they made, really catchy and energetic, and how much fun it looked, and ever since then wondered if it would be possible to have something similar back in New Zealand."
For more information, contact Murray Tonks on (0274) 482995
