Capoeira New York

Just like capoeira itself, the history of the berimbau is uncertain. Until the 19th century, capoeira was only played with "atabaques" (drums). In 1834, a French writer name Jean-Baptiste Debret mentioned in one of his publications that berimbaus were used to attract customer's attention on street fairs; to ethnomusicology researcher Tiago de Oliveira Pinto, Historians and other researches, berimbau is a Brazilian instrument with African roots that was later successfully incorporated into capoeira. Today the berimbau, a single steel stringed bow, is the lead instrument in capoeira; it dictates the rhythm. There are three types of berimbaus: Viola, Médio & Gunga. There are many different berimbau beats, and each one has a meaning to the capoeira game. For instance:

Angola - Slow beat, close to the ground game, with slyness movements.

Benguela - Closed game, medium beat with lots of swings and stealthy moves.

Amazonas - A rich rhythm created by mestre Bimba in order to greet guests.

Idalina - Aerial game with swings, rich in movements.

Iúna - Game for masters, with lots of choreographed moves. Sometimes used to honor a master's death.

Santa Maria - A simple and fast beat; game played without touching the hands on the floor; razors are used.

Cavalaria - A beat that resembles a horse, meaning a warning; a violent game.

São Bento Pequeno - A midium beat with smooth moves.

São Bento Grande - A fast beat with more aerial and fast movements.

Samba de Roda - A beat used for samba de roda(an Afro-Brazilian dance) in capoeira performances.