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| Percussion instrument | |
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| Classification | Percussion |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 112.1 (Shaken idiophones or rattles) |
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| Shekere | |
| Musicians | |
| Machito,Monguito | |
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| LP Percussion | |
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Amaraca (pronunciationⓘ), sometimes calledla mamá del palote orkaroline,[1] is arattle which appears in many genres ofCaribbean andLatin music. It is shaken by a handle and usually played as part of a pair.
Maracas (fromGuaranímbaracás),[2] also known as tamaracas, were rattles of divination, an oracle of the BrazilianTupinamba people, found also with other Indigenous ethnic groups, such as theGuarani,Orinoco and inFlorida. Rattles made fromLagenaria gourds are being shaken by the natural grip, while the roundCrescentia calabash fruits are fitted to a handle.[3] Human hair is sometimes fastened on the top, and a slit is cut in it to represent a mouth, through which theirshamans (payes) made it utter its responses. A few pebbles are inserted to make it rattle and it is crowned with the red feathers of theguarás (scarlet ibis). It was used at their dances and to heal the sick.[4] Andeancuranderos (healers) use maracas in their healing rites.[5]
Modern maraca balls are also made of leather, wood or plastic.[6]
A maraca player in Spanish is amaraquero.[7][8]
Media related toMaracas at Wikimedia Commons
