10 facts about the maracas

The simple design and intuitive process of the maracas have made it a familiar favorite around the world, but may often lead to an underestimation of its value in creating variety of rhythmic expression. Yet this rattle-like instrument has a long history of engaging audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Learn more about the cultural significance and musical capabilities behind the maracas with our ten fun facts below:

1. Although maracas are traditionally made from hollowed and dried gourds, today they are more commonly found in plastic, metal, and wooden forms.

2. The term ‘maraca’ likely has origins in the pre-Columbian Araucanian language, and its heritage as a rattle is ancient.

3. Different maracas can produce sounds that are recognizably higher or lower than one another, and composers will sometimes specify depending upon the desired sound.

4. Maracas are integral to Latin American dance bands, and have become increasingly popular in pop groups, percussion ensembles, as well as primary school music education.

5. Many 20^th century composers including Edgard Varèse, Sergey Prokofiev, and Malcolm Arnold included the maracas in their pieces.

6. In Paraguay, maracas are most commonly made from the porrongo gourd, and are only played by men.

7. A Brazilian instrument of similar construction, the caxixi, which is made from a small wicker basket filled with seeds, produces a similar sound to that of the maracas.

8. In Venezuela, the singer plays the maraca as a basic form of rhythmic accompaniment.

9. In Colombia, the maracas are an integral part of the conjunto de cumbria and conjunto de gaitas ensembles. Smaller types of rattles, like the gapachos and clavellinas, appear in the Andean and Llanos regions, respectively.

10. Maracas are usually played in pairs, with either one in each hand or two held together in one hand.

Do you have any others to add to our list?

Featured image credit: “Maracas” by Max Bosio, CC BY 2.0 via Flickr.