Castanets

Castanets, which are a percussion instrument known as an idiophone, have a very ancient history. Instruments in the percussion family are played by being struck, shaken, or scraped. In the orchestra, the percussion section provides a variety of rhythms, textures and nuances of tone.

The Greeks used "krotala" in religious ceremonies but castanets were also used in Ancient Rome and in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American music.

The Iberian "crusmata" - two wooden sticks, two shells or two flat stones, sometimes of ivory or bone are probably the true forerunners of present day Spanish castanets.The Spanish name "castanuelas" is derived from the diminutive form of "castana" the Spanish word for chestnut which they resemble. They are more usually called "palillos" (little sticks) in Andalucia. This is the name by which they are known in flamenco.

After much experimentation with materials and shape "ears" were added to the castanets which allowed them to be attached to the players' thumbs. Castanets can be square, oval, round, triangular or pear shaped. The largest known today are the "castanyolasses" from Ibiza which are attached to four fingers in the same manner as the "chacaras" from the Canary Isles. A type of palm sized castanet was introduced during the eleventh and twelfth centuries and is still used in Spanish folklore.Flamenco did not originally use castanets which were incorporated later.

Traditionally they are made from hardwood, although there are cheaper fibreglass models.A player usually uses two pairs of castanets - one pair is held in each hand. A string or cord is hooked over the thumb and the castanet rests on the palm with the fingers bent over to support the other side. Each pair of castanets has a slightly different pitch. The "hembra" (female) castanet is usually held in the right hand (if you are right handed) with the larger macho (male) pair held in the left hand.

The castanets can also be used within an orchestra. Here they are sometimes attached to a handle, or mounted on a base to form a pair of machine castanets. Rolls on the castanets can be produced in a number of ways. When hand-held they are bounced against the fingers and palm of the hand, on sticks by bouncing them between fingers and the players thigh. Machine castanets produce a less satisfactory roll by the player doing a fast alternation of the two castanets with the fingers.

During the baroque period castanets were widely featured in dances. Castanets were used to lend a Spanish atmosphere in George Bizet's opera "Carmen" and Emmanuel Chabrier's orchestral work "Espana".

There are two concerto's for castanets. Leonardo Balada's Concertino for Castanets and Orchestra Three Anecdotes (1977). The other is Conciertino fuer Kastagnetten und Orchester by Helmut M. Timpelan.

Castanets are a seemingly simple but very versatile instruments.

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