What are castanets? This is a musical instrument that creates an incredibly beautiful and clear rhythm. Castanets are found in many countries around the world: Portugal, Italy, Argentina, but only in Spain they are considered a cultural and national treasure because they are an important part of folk songs and dances.

Novelty castanets have been made from ivory, marble, crystal, gold, silver, bronze, and aluminum, but few of these are musically useful. The traditional material used for good castanets has been very hard (but not brittle) wood such as granadillo, rosewood, ebony, pomegranate, or oak.

Castanets are commonly shaped like a clam shell that is circular or slightly oval, with an extension on one side for the hinge holes. Occasionally, however, castanets are made in more novel shapes like squares, rectangles, or triangles.

Playing this instrument is not easy and it takes a lot of training to master them.

There are two styles. Folk(classic style) and folk style, I know they sound the same, but they are very different.

In classic style, the instruments for the right and left hand have different sizes and sounds. The castanet for the right hand is called the hembra: it is smaller in size and has a higher sound. The castanet for the left hand is called macho – it is larger in size and has a lower tone.

In folk style, this method creates a sharper sound than in classical style.

Castanets are the most popular souvenir that tourists bring with sunny Spain.

The Castanets sounded in the cinema in the 30s of the last century in the films “The Daughter of Juan Simon”, “Maria de la O”, “Fandango spell”, where the main character is the Spanish actress Carmen Amaya, who is also an extremely good flamenco dancer.

The word castanet comes from castaina, the Spanish word for chestnut. Besides castainuelas, there are several other Spanish words for castanets, including pulgaretes(because some dancers attach them to their thumb, or pulgar)and platillos(saucers).

How castsnets are made:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifEbJNsyQqQ

Learn how to play castanets:

Part1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag6KmZ-2Ymo

Part2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEfT821KEDA

Part3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeeJyaPDwvs

Made from:

Yoana Pashtrapanska

Kalina Ganeva

Kaya Salabasheva

Kostadin Gospodinov

Sources:

https://www.encyclopedia.com/literature-and-arts/performing-arts/music-theory-forms-and-instruments/castanets

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castanets