Contemporanea Repinique 12" x 30cm G. Policarpo wood - 6 rods - Pro

Historical Context and Positioning in the Range

A membranophone born at the heart of samba schools, the repinique has established itself as one of the most recognizable voices in Brazilian percussion. Its function is not only sonic: it structures the percussion orchestra by giving starts, changes, and rhythmic signatures. In a bateria, it holds the position of conductor, alongside the apito (whistle), guiding the group's energy and clarifying transitions during breaks.

Who This Percussion is For

The repinique is aimed at musicians who want to join a samba ensemble (bateria, bloco, batucada) or enrich a percussion set with a directive, expressive instrument that is very present in the spectrum. Motivated beginners will find a clear and educational drum to work on placement, dynamics, and collective listening. Intermediate and advanced percussionists will fully exploit its leadership dimension: coded calls, variations, offbeats, and break construction.

In terms of styles, it is naturally comfortable in samba, samba-reggae, pagode, and batucada, but it also finds its place in fusion contexts (world music, fanfares, urban percussion) whenever a high-pitched timbre capable of "cutting through" the group is needed.

Features and Innovations

The playing principle is based on a cylindrical shell equipped with two synthetic heads, stretched at each end. This configuration offers two response zones and allows a wide variety of articulations: sharp stick attacks, nuances obtained by the free hand, and fast phrasing when using two long, flexible sticks (often in samba-reggae). Musically, the instrument is designed for interaction: an effective repinique must launch clear motifs, leave space for the section's response, then take back control to lock in the collective groove.

Sound

With its synthetic heads, the repinique favors a precise attack and consistent response, particularly useful in ensemble settings where clarity is essential. The head reacts quickly to short, accented strikes, facilitating musical signals (calls, restarts, changes). Hand gestures on the head complement stick playing by adding nuances, muffling, and timbre variations, essential for building a true rhythmic "language."

The repinique's characteristic high tessitura allows it to stand out from the rest of the bateria. It is precisely this place in the spectrum that makes it a directing instrument: it cuts through the mass of surdos and caixas while remaining musical thanks to dynamic variations and contrasts between open strikes and more controlled sounds. In samba-reggae, the use of two long, flexible sticks promotes a more rolling and energetic playing style, with a bouncing sensation and continuity that support bloco patterns.

Technical specifications

Instrument size	Medium	Depth	30 cm
Category	Brazilian	Color	Brown
Type	Repinique	Finishing	Matt
Material	wood	Hardware	Chromed
Skin type	Plastic	Diameter	12 "

Family	percussion	Complement	movements of the other hand on the head (nuances, muffling, articulations)
Designation	repinique	Alternative	two long, flexible sticks (samba-reggae approach)
Shell	cylindrical	Role	high-pitched lead drum within a bateria
Configuration	double head (one at each end)	Function	calls in the form of "questions" and responses from the section
Mounting	heads stretched on each side of the shell	Origin	samba schools
Main playing style	a short, thick stick in one hand