Brazilian Friction drum with a remarkable pitch range. A wooden stick, fastened at one end inside a drum in the centre of the drumhead, is rosined and rubbed with a cloth. The instrument’s large range is produced by changing tension on the head by pressing with the hand. Its origin is difficult to determine. It was introduced into Brazil probably by Bantu slaves, but it has also been known in Spain for centuries and is believed to have been brought to sub-Saharan Africa by Muslims. The cuíca is used to accompany numerous folk and urban popular dances; for example, it may be part of the instrumental ensemble for the May dança de Santa Cruz (derived from Iberian tradition) or for the moçambique dramatic dance (bailado) in Minas Gerais, the other instruments of the latter ensemble being snare drum, reco-reco (scraper) and xique-xique (rattle). For Holy Cross dances and processions the accompaniment may be two adufe (tambourine) players, with occasionally an additional cuíca player and güiros. It is often used with other instruments in performances of São Paulo rural sambas when it joins an ensemble including bombo (large bass drum), snare drum, tambourine, reco-reco and guaia (shaken rattle).
JOHN M. SCHECHTER