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Welfare State
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Hand Signals

Afoxe

(Tune sign: shaving the armpit)

Notes:

This is a nice fast tune.

The repenique part is rather hard with as some notes are hit with a flare, some with the hand near the rim of the drum, and some notes played on the rim. It takes a bit of practice, but once you've got it, it sounds fantastic. 

The tam part can be remembered by "1  2  3  4  What Are We Here For". Be careful though - it is quite easy if you're not concentrating to slip into the tam part for Welfare State.
   

One thing to note is that whilst most of the instruments have parts that are played over 4 beats, the surdos have a pattern played over 8. It is important to call breaks etc at the right time.

When playing, start with break 2. Alternatively, start the low surdo, then add in the mid and high surdos. The surdo rhythm is quite a funky one. Then start bringing in the other instruments.

Use break 2 and the short break frequently. Also liberally use a break of 4 beats frequently with one instrument going each time (don’t forget the surdos – they sound great on their own if you call a break of 8 beats). Don’t forget that you can string a load of short breaks together.

Try calling a break then stopping all the instruments except the surdos. Signal everyone to play the short break then stop, so it's still just the surdos. Do this a few times, with the short breaks closer together. Come out of this using break 2.

Be nice to your tam players. This song can be very tiring for them so give them a break once in a while. 

This is quite a flexible tune. Using break 2 you can speed up and slow down the tempo, with the mestre setting the new tempo on the repenique.

End the song with break 2.

[Sound files] [Printable Version]

Groove

x = hit

0 = note dampened with hand

hd = hit hand on repenique rim

fl = flare on repenique

. = shadow note on snare

l = low agogo bell

h = high agogo bell

Short Break

(Signal: like the "small word" sign in charades - thumb and 1st finger held apart to to signal something small)

Intro break/break 2

(Signal: hold up 2 fingers)

(N.B. some RoR bands signal this by putting both hands on the chest then stretching your arms outwards towards your band, to make a "me to you" kind of signal.)

Ri = Repenique

E = Everyone else

A = All

Sound files

[Printable Version]