Maracatu

Maracatu songs tend to be slow and plodding but very rhythmic, played with large alfaia drums, large metal gonguê bells, snare drums and shakers. Originating in Recife and Olinda in Pernambuco state in northeastern Brazil, Maracatu featyres two distinct performance genres: Maracatu de Nação (nation-style Maracatu) and Maracatu Rural (rural-style Maracatu). An important variant is found in and around Fortaleza, Ceará (called Maracatu Cearense), which uses triangles instead of gonguês, and surdos or zabumbas instead of alfaias.