Traditional Maracatu bell  - large gongue

The double Maracatu bells are tipical for Maracatu rural.
Both bells are made of robust, hand-welded and approx. 2mm strong steel sheet is welded together to a gongue bell which is made of 2 parts each. The edges are neatly forged one above the other and then rivetted. The handle is welded to the bells, so is a ring for wearing the gongue with a strap. You would usually wear the agogo on a strap and play it with 2 sticks.
The original Maracatu bells from Barravento have a strong and penetrant sound. The gongue appears in a rustical look, sound-technically they have the authentic, rough sound of iron which fits great to the archaic thunder of the alfaias.
Due to being hand-welded, all Maracatu bells are unique pieces! Smaller differences amongst the instruments are quite probable. You may find that the thickness of the steel sheet varies slightly, which is why each bell has its own tone character.
Barravento is a long-established and well-known manufacturer of traditional Maracatu instruments with his workshop in the North-east of Brazil.
With a Barravento gongue you can be sure to have an authentic piece of Brazil in your hands!