Agogô & Reco-reco?
Agogô
The agogô is a double bell traditionally used in many percussion styles (African, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian…). Above all, this instrument is an inseparable part of the Vodun cults that crossed the Atlantic Ocean with the enslaved Africans.
Agogô bells are used in various kinds of Latin music, but mainly in batucada sections and in capoeira. They bring the brightness needed to balance the many sounds of the “bateria”.
The agogô is a pair of bells with different pitches attached to a common handle, played with a stick held in the other hand. Traditionally, this instrument was made from all kinds of discarded metal objects, such as tins or machine parts, which were turned into an instrument as best one could.
It is an instrument frequently used in percussion ensembles (African, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian…). The agogô is not always seen in the roda, but when it is there, it blends in beautifully. It has a very clear tone that rises above all the other instruments.
Reco-reco
The reco-reco is a fairly recent addition to the roda. It is traditionally made from a hollow stem, such as sugar cane or bamboo, about 30 cm long. It can also be carved from a piece of wood.
The surface is grooved and is rubbed with a wooden or metal stick to produce a piercing yet grainy sound. In street rodas, it is often replaced by anything with a ridged surface, such as wire mesh or plastic bottles.
The reco-reco is not often seen in rodas, but it is no stranger to them. Small reco-recos tend to get lost in the noise of the other instruments, but a large, well-made reco-reco carries further and adds a character all of its own. You are not limited to scraping the surface: you can also tap it, and a player can improvise as much with this instrument as with any other.
