maraca n : a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance [syn: bones, castanets, clappers, finger cymbals]

English

Etymology

From , derived from .

Pronunciation

• /məˈɹæ.kə/
• Rhymes with: -ækə

Noun

1. A Latin American percussion instrument consisting of a hollow-gourd rattle containing pebbles or beans and often played in pairs, as a rhythm instrument.

Maraca is also a genus of tarantula.

Maracas (pronunciation, sometimes called rhumba shakers) are simple percussion instruments (idiophones), usually played in pairs, consisting of a dried calabash or gourd shell (cuia - 'kOO-ya') or coconut shell filled with seeds or dried beans. They may also be made of leather, wood, or plastic. Often one maraca is pitched high and the other is pitched low. Some have thought the instrument of prehistoric Moroccan origin, however there are in existence clay maracas used by the Indians of Colombia, 1500 years ago. The word maraca is thought to have come from the Tupi language of Brazil, where it is pronounced 'ma-ra-KAH'. They are known in Trinidad as shac-shacs.

Although a simple instrument, the method of playing the maracas is not obvious. The seeds must travel some distance before they hit the leather, wood, or plastic, so the player must anticipate the rhythm. Band leader Vincent Lopez hosted a radio program in the early 1950s called Shake the Maracas in which audience members competed for small prizes by playing the instrument with the orchestra.

Maracas are heard in many forms of Latin music and are also used in pop and classical music. They are considered characteristic of the music of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, and Brazil. Maracas are often played at celebrations and special events. In rock and roll, they are probably most identified with Bo Diddley, who wrote the song "Bring it to Jerome" about his maraca player, Jerome Green. Maracas are also very popular with children and are commonly included in the instruments of the rhythm band.

Use in Classical music

• Oliver Messiaen: Trois Petites liturgies de la Présence Divine, Turangalîla-Symphonie, Des canyons aux étoiles and Saint-François d'Assise
• Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story and Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
• Peter Maxwell Davies The Lighthouse (opera)
• Arturo Márquez: Danzon no. 2
• Philip Glass: The Book of Longing
• Karl Jenkins: Tangollen

List of Maracas Performers

• Gloria Parker
• Vincent Lopez

References

battery, bells, bones, castanets, celesta, chime, chimes, clappers, crash cymbal, cymbals, finger cymbals, gamelan, glockenspiel, gong, handbells, idiophone, lyra, marimba, metallophone, orchestral bells, percussion, percussion instrument, percussions, percussive, rattle, rattlebones, sizzler, snappers, tam-tam, tintinnabula, tonitruone, triangle, tubular bells, vibes, vibraphone, xylophone