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Quiz about LatinAmerican Percussion Instruments
Quiz about LatinAmerican Percussion Instruments

Latin-American Percussion Instruments Quiz


Test your knowledge of some traditional percussion instruments from Latin America. Good luck and enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by tiffanyram. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
tiffanyram
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
394,083
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
134
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Which Cuban drum, whose beat may make you want to dance in a line, is also known as a tumbadora? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The bongo is actually a pair of drums that are usually played by placing them between the legs. One drum is smaller than the other, and in Spanish, the smaller of the two drums is called the "macho".


Question 3 of 10
3. The erikundi is a shaken percussion instrument, similar to a maraca, that is traditionally made from which material? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. The steel drum originated in Trinidad and Tobago, and is associated with Calypso music. What is the person who plays the drum called? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The pandeiro, an instrument that resembles a tambourine, originated in which South American country? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. All of the following are types of scraper percussion instruments, except for which one? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What is typically used to make the bombo, or bombo legüero, a traditional drum from Argentina? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Believe it or not, there is actually a percussion instrument made from sheep or goat hooves called a chapcha. Which region is home to this peculiar instrument which belongs to the rattle family? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The rainstick is thought to have been brought over to Latin America from Africa.


Question 10 of 10
10. The surdo is a traditional Brazilian instrument that is typically found in Samba music. What type of drum or percussion instrument is it? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which Cuban drum, whose beat may make you want to dance in a line, is also known as a tumbadora?

Answer: conga

The conga is a tall and narrow, barrel-shaped drum, traditionally used in Afro-Cuban music, like the Conga and the Rumba. It can also be found in some other rhythms, such as Cumbia, Merengue, and Punta. The conga line is a famous dance that many people do whenever they hear conga music.

The drum originated in Cuba, but it has influences from African culture. Originally, musicians would have just played a single conga drum, but innovations and changes in the drum's construction in the 20th century contributed to the increasing popularity for drummers to play two or three congas, instead of the traditional single drum.
2. The bongo is actually a pair of drums that are usually played by placing them between the legs. One drum is smaller than the other, and in Spanish, the smaller of the two drums is called the "macho".

Answer: True

The larger drum of the pair is called the "hembra", or female, while the smaller one is known as the "macho", or male drum. The pair of drums are small drums with open bottoms. Traditionally, the bongos would be placed between the legs, with the smaller "macho" on top against the thigh, and the larger "hembra" against the calf. Bongos originated in Cuba in the late 19th century, and are traditionally associated with Cuban music genres, such as the Son Cubano and Changui.
3. The erikundi is a shaken percussion instrument, similar to a maraca, that is traditionally made from which material?

Answer: woven reed or grass

Erikundi are usually smaller than maracas, and, though they are shaken like maracas, the sound quality is different due to the different material used to make them. Erikundi are generally made from woven grass or reed, and they may have a leather or gourd bottom, while maracas are usually made from gourds.

The erikundi also has religious importance and is associated with rituals dealing with power, such as the Ekoria Itia Abakuá, which is celebrated in parts of Cuba.
4. The steel drum originated in Trinidad and Tobago, and is associated with Calypso music. What is the person who plays the drum called?

Answer: pannist

The pannist, or penman, plays the steel drum, and may play solo or as part of a band. The steel pan is a type of idiophone, or any instrument whose sound is produced by the whole instrument vibrating. While modern steel drums are made of industrial drums that have been chromatically pitched, the steel pan's first incarnation was a bamboo stick, called a tamboo-bamboo.
5. The pandeiro, an instrument that resembles a tambourine, originated in which South American country?

Answer: Brazil

While it resembles a tambourine, the sound quality of the pandeiro is crisper and the tone doesn't last as long. It can traditionally be found in several Brazilian music genres, including Coco, Samba, and Capoeira. The pandeiro is a successor to the pandereta that was used in Spain and Portugal.
6. All of the following are types of scraper percussion instruments, except for which one?

Answer: cajón

The word "cajón" translates to "box" in English, which references the drum's shape. Many players sit on top of the cajón and strike its front or rear surfaces with their hands, but they can also use other striking instruments like mallets or brushes. The cajón is used in the music of several different Latin American countries, but it can be traced back to 16th century Peru.

The other three instruments are all scraper instruments. A stick or brush is used to rub along the edges of the instrument to make sound.
7. What is typically used to make the bombo, or bombo legüero, a traditional drum from Argentina?

Answer: hollowed tree trunk

The hollowed tree trunk is covered in animal skin with the fur still on it. This creates a deep sound, which is supposed to be heard a league away. The bombo can be found in Folkloric Argentine genres, like Chacarera and Zamba.
8. Believe it or not, there is actually a percussion instrument made from sheep or goat hooves called a chapcha. Which region is home to this peculiar instrument which belongs to the rattle family?

Answer: Andes

The hooves are attached to elastic or stretchable fabric and are then worn either on the ankle or the wrist. Traditionally, they are used in ceremonial dances and are often worn in pairs. They are represented in the music of several Andean countries, including Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia.
9. The rainstick is thought to have been brought over to Latin America from Africa.

Answer: False

While many Latin American percussion instruments have roots or predecessors in Africa, the rainstick is thought to have originated among the Mapuche people of South America. It gets its name from the belief that it could cause rainstorms to occur. Traditionally, rainsticks are made out of cacti that have been dried and hollowed, and small pebbles are placed inside so that when the rainstick is turned upright, it makes a sound similar to rain.
10. The surdo is a traditional Brazilian instrument that is typically found in Samba music. What type of drum or percussion instrument is it?

Answer: bass drum

Surdos are large drums, but they do come in a variety of sizes. In a carnival Samba, there are three different sizes of surdo used to play three distinct parts. While surdos can be made from a variety of materials, the preferred combination of materials in Rio is a lightweight aluminum shell with an animal skin head so that the instrument is lightweight with a rich sound.
Source: Author tiffanyram

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