Salvador's plentiful street drummings...

One of the really nice things about Salvador is the energy on the public streets.  I think this mainly happens in the Centro Historico district partly because this is where a large number of the tourists stay, but mainly because this is the main gathering spot for the locals.  This is the heart of town, and this is where the public squares are located.  While, I am sure the drum brigades are happy to garner the tourists' attention and maybe even sell a CD or some fundraising trinket, I think they mainly play for themselves and the other locals who gather around the brigades and dance in greater numbers than the tourists.  We are also approaching Carnival.  I would be curious to know what the street drumming is like at other times of the year.

 

Ozell mentioned a good point when we were discussing this on the main square the night I had the pick pocket attempts.  At about 2 AM, a drumming brigade consisting mainly of teenagers claimed one of the corners of the square and started playing.  YOU DO NOT SLEEP IN THE CENTRO HISTORICO DISTRICT UNLESS YOU CAN TUNE OUT THE DRUMS.  Ozell mentioned that these brigades had to practice for Carnival so if you are going to practice, why not practice in public and have some fun with it.  Plus, there probably aren't many interior places that have enough room to house a brigade.  The interesting point that Ozell made about the practicing in preparation of Carnival is that they probably practice not just for technique but also for endurance.  If you saw the energy put into the playing of these drums, most of us would not be able to keep up the pace for more than 15 minutes or so.  And we would be sweating buckets here in the tropics.  During Carnival, these drum brigades are an integral part of a Samba School which are the entities who parade and compete for top prizes and recognition.  It is a very involved and pride fueled affair.  The Samba Schools will also have the dancers and other members in conjunction with the drum brigade.  I am by no means knowledgeable about Samba Schools so Wiki it for more information.  But my point (Ozell's point) is that these schools have to compete for 4 or more hours straight without a break.  And I do mean continuous for the four or more hours.  Therefore, physical conditioning is a fucking huge part of the preparation for the big event.  And the drum brigades we have witnessed here so far play for at least an hour, but often they play for longer periods than that- continuously.

 

The pic attached to this post is one of a neighborhood's children drum brigade.  I doubt they are part of any Samba School, but I am sure this is analogous to Little League Baseball being the fun training activity that supplies varsity high school, college, and professional baseball players in the future.

 

I wish I had some pics and video of the teenage drum brigade that was out on the square a couple nights ago, but Ozell and I purposely did not bring the camera for fear of being pick pocketed or mugged.  Obviously, from the last post, you can see that was a good choice.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean