the pandeiro is a hand drum, played with the thumb or with the four long fingers to achieve the three tones that can be produced on the skin. the playing of the iconic instrument, ever faster, ever more intricately is a hallmark of the carioca music culture. the instrument is played by thousands upon thousands of fluminenses, from the most humble street corners to the most exalted samba schools.

the bateria, much like rio itself, is made up of many voices and myriad traditions, and just like the cariocas that play them, their unified chorus produces an effect much larger than the sum of its parts - these instruments of humble, dedicated people carry the force to move the world.