cultura
“EL TAMBORITO”
Panama’s Folklore
DEFINITION
“El Tamborito” means the little drum. The term is a derivative of “El Tambor” which means the drum in Spanish. Historically, drums have symbolic cross-cultural meaning such as to give signals, to command, to summon, to call, to alert and to warn. Drums are also percussion instruments used to produce music to entertain, as well as, for special and solemn occasions.
THE FOLKLORIC DRUMS OF PANAMAThe native drums of Panama, the “Caja”, the “Pujas” and the “Repicador” have special significance in Panama’s folkloric tradition. They serve as the prime typical instruments to lead and buttress Panama’s national dance, “El Tamborito”. These drums are made of hollow cylindrical wood from local tree trunks covered with tanned velum from thoroughly sun dried cowhide stretched tightly over one or both circular ends of the receptacle, kept taut and wound by hoisting chords made of hide or rope. They are played by beating the head or heads repetitiously in rapid succession of strokes with the hands or sticks to produce reverberating rhythmical sounds.
The “Caja” is a short and squat rhythmical drum that produces staccato like tones. The “Puja” or Pujador gender is masculine. It is a long and marrow deep tone drum that produces booming baselike sounds. The “Repicador” gender is feminine. It is a long and narrow drum that produces sonorous high pitched scaled melodious sounds, which carries the rhythm of the dancers.
When all three drums are played together they create a symphonic spell binding orchestration of rhythmic and melodic beat and sounds that intoxicatingly titilates the aural senses, with a crescendo of arousing reverberations that erupts into an ecstatic rhapsody that explodes into a spiritual like orgasmic climax. Led by the drums, the “Tamborito” dancers elegant grace and sensuous gyrations convey this passionate journey.
EL TAMBORITO: The National Dance of Panama
“El Tamborito” is more than a dance. It is an expression of the Panamanian grace, faith, hopes, desires, spirit and soul. It is Panama’s local operatic performance. It is Panama’s typical and folkloric musical theatre. The performance displays an elegant and dramatic synergy of singers (“Cantalantes”), dancers and drummers. The performance usually depicts themes revolving around the joys and anguish resulting from the attraction between men and women. An example, of the seductive poetry and romantic “double entendre” of the “Tamborito” is briefly illustrated in this popular “Tonada”:Translated:
“Panameno, Panameno Panamanian Panamanian
Panameno, vida mia Panamanian, my life
Yo quiero que tu me lleves I want you to take me
Al tambor de alegria To the drum of joyWhen dancing the “Tamborito”, the dancers sensuous movement and suggestive gestures are usually in response to the pulsating vibrations and rhythmical reverberations of the hypnotic drum beats. A favorite, classic is the “Tambor Empollerado” where Panama’s national dress is worn by the dancers. The decoratively frilled and embroidered gown, “La Pollera” is worn by the woman and “El Montuno” is worn by the man. There are many who swear that a woman is more seductive robed in a “pollera” than Venus de Milo disrobed.
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