Description
The candlenut is the fruit of the Aleurites moluccana tree. This tree species is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family. The nut is used in Indonesian and Malaysian cuisine. Candlenut is sometimes confused with the macadamia nut, which looks similar when shelled, but has a completely different use. The tree's original habitat is unknown because it is cultivated in so many places. It grows throughout the tropics, both in the New and Old World. It grows to a height of 15–25 m and has widely spreading or even drooping branches. The fruit is a nut with a diameter of 4–6 cm. The shell is rock-hard and virtually impossible to peel by hand. Therefore, the nuts are only commercially available shelled.
The maraca (also known as samba balls in the vernacular) is a musical instrument from the group of idiophones originating in South and Central America. However, the instrument is of Native American origin. Some South American Indians use a single maraca for ritual purposes. Nowadays, the maraca consists of two identical shakers, often played by a vocalist. The traditional form is a gourd, ritually filled with seeds, with a wooden handle. Modern forms are made of various materials, including plastic. When the maracas are shaken slowly, they produce a rustling sound. Faster wrist movements produce a much sharper, dry click. The combination of these two sounds makes the instrument characteristic of many Latin American dances such as the rumba, and especially the Mexican mariachi. Maracas are also used in the Orff Instrumentarium. Dutch comedian André van Duin once wrote the carnival song "Sambaballensamba," which included ambiguous allusions to the samba ball, such as "Whoever wants to join in, hits the beat with their balls." Sambaballen is actually a misnomer, as these maracas are not used in samba.
Making music in Bali
