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The castanets are a percussion instrument ( idiophone), much used in Moorish music , Gypsy music, Spanish music and Latin American music. The instrument consists of a pair of concave shells joined on one edge by string. These are held in the hand and used to produce clicks for rhythmic accents or a ripping or rattling sound consisting of a rapid series of clicks. They are traditionally made of hardwood, although fibreglass is becoming increasingly popular.
In practice a player usually uses two pairs of castanets. One pair is held in each hand, with the string hooked over the thumb and the castanets resting on the palm with the fingers bent over to support the other side. Each pair will make a sound of a slightly different pitch. The higher pair, known as hembra (female), is usually held in the right hand, with the larger macho (male) pair held in the left.
Castanets are often played by singers or dancers, and are prominently used in flamenco music. The name (Spanish: castañuelas) is derived from the diminutive form of castaña, the Spanish word for chestnut, which they resemble. In Andalusia they are usually referred to as palillos (little sticks) instead, and this is the name by which they are known in flamenco.
The origins of the instrument are not known. The practice of clicking hand-held sticks together to accompany dancing is ancient, and was practiced by both the Greeks and the Egyptians. In more modern times, the bonesThe bones are a musical instrument which, at the simplest, consists of a pair of bones, human or animal, or pieces of wood or similar. They are played by holding them between one's fingers and moving one's wrist in such a way that they knock against each and spoonA spoon is a common eating utensil, or item of cutlery, like a small spade, that occurs in a number of sizes and forms and is also suitable for liquid food and for stirring, and can have a number of other uses, including: courtship, combat and musical ents used in Minstrel showThe minstrel show or minstrelsy is an indigenous form of American entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, usually performed by white people in blackface. History Lewis Hallam was probably the first actor to perform in bl and jug bandA jug band is a band employing a jug player and other traditional and homemade instruments, such as rhythm guitar, washtub bass, washboard, jug, mandolin, and kazoo. A jug player is required for a jug band. Other types of band employing a mix of tradition music can also be considered forms of the castanet.
When used in an orchestralAn orchestra is a musical ensemble used most often in classical music. A small orchestra is called a chamber orchestra''. Full size orchestras may sometimes be called "symphony orchestras" or "philharmonic orchestras"; these prefixes do not indicate any d setting, castanets are sometimes attached to a handle, or mounted to a base to form a pair of machine castanets. This makes them easier to play, but also alters the sound, particularly for the machine castanets. It is possible to produce a rollThis article is about the drum roll, a percussion technique. Drum Roll" is also the title of the autobiography of James Blades. A drum roll is a method a percussionist employs to produce a sustained sound on a drum. Rolls are used on other percussion inst on a pair of castanets in any of the three ways in which they are held. When held in the hand, they are bounced against the fingers and palm of the hand; on sticks, bouncing between fingers and the player's thigh is one accepted method. For a machine castanet, a less satisfactory roll is obtained by rapid alternation of the two castanets with the fingers.
Castanets are often used in classical musicThis article is about the broad genre of classical music in the Western musical tradition. For the period of music in the 18th century see Classical music era, for articles on classical music of non-Western cultures, see: List of classical music tradition to evoke a Spanish atmosphere, as in Georges BizetGeorges Bizet ( October 25, 1838 June 3, 1875), was a French composer of the romantic era best known for his opera Carmen. Born Alexandre-Cesar-Leopold, but baptized Georges, Bizet, a child prodigy, entered the prestegious Paris Conservatory of Music at t's opera, Carmen, or Emmanuel Chabrier's orchestral work España. They are also found in the "Dance of the Seven Veils" from Richard Strauss' opera Salome and in Richard Wagner's Tannhäuser. An unusual variation on the standard castanets can be found in Darius Milhaud's Les Choëphores, which calls for castanets made of metal.
Castanet is the name of several communes in France:
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