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Bateria do Rio de Janeiro

The bateria is the drum ensemble of an escola de samba (Samba school)

that is made up of up to 300 percussionists. The bateria accompanies the enredo which is the song composed and selected by each samba school every year for their carnaval parade. (1) With the creation of the Samba schools such as Deixa Falar, Estação Primeira de Mangueira and Conjunto Oswaldo Cruz (now Portela) in the 1920’s, the baterias began. (2)

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The following references contain helpful information on bateria history and instruments

as well as links to bateria videos from Rio de Janeiro Samba Schools.

Fundamentals of a Samba School Bateria by Gabriel Lopes

From the author: "The objective of this book is to systematically analyze, in an educational format, the rhythmic part of samba and the function of a bateria of a samba school in order that the reader understands how the unique sound of a bateria is created. At the end of the book, the student will fully understand how a bateria arrangement is created and will be able to do his/her own bateria arrangement. All scores of the book are accompanied by their respective audios." 

Samba Instruments by Samba de Rainha

Descriptions of the Rio Samba style Bateria instruments including the roles each instrument plays compiled by Liani, a Brazilian Professional Samba Dancer (Passista) and Teacher. Each description has a link to a video of each instrument being played

Virada Drums Glossary of Samba Terminology

Definitions of common Samba terms including descriptions of the instruments of the Rio Samba style Bateria compiled by Professional Brazilian music percussionist and teacher and Director of Boulder Samba School, Carl Dixon

Troféu Bateria YouTube Channel

Organization that bestows Samba School Baterias annual awards for excellence in a variety of categories. Their YouTube Channel contains videos of Samba School Bateria Carnaval Rehearsals and Parades

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