Castanets

Where does it come from?

The invention of the castanets is attributed to the Phoenicians, who made the first sticks more than three thousand years ago, using common wood. They were instruments similar to those of today, they were called rattlesnakes and used them for their religious ceremonies, associating them with festive rites.

Thanks to commercial relations, the use of castanets was expanding throughout the Mediterranean countries, especially in the areas of present-day Italy and Croatia.

However, it was in Spain where this instrument managed to carve a niche in its culture, acquiring remarkable importance, especially for flamenco music.

But long before becoming an essential instrument for flamenco, castanets already had their place in classical music. Among other artists, we remember what Santiago de Murcia, one of the most important Spanish guitarists and composers of the Baroque, did. In some satirical pieces he composed, called ‘jácaras’, the castanets had a fundamental role. He also created some fandangos whose melody was played by the classical guitar and, of course, by the castanets.

What type of instrument is it?

Castanets are a percussion instrument of the clapper family, consisting of two hollowed-out pear-shaped pieces of hardwood, ivory, or other substance hinged together by a cord. Castanets are usually held in the hand and struck together.

What is it made of?

The instrument consists of a pair of concave shells joined on one edge by a string. They 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.

Fun Facts

• Castanets in Spanish Andalusia are also called palillos, which in Spanish means chopsticks.
• There is a version that castanets to Spain from the New World were brought by Christopher Columbus.
• For about three hundred years, the Spanish Gypsies, and with them, the flamenco with castanets were in exile. And only in the 18th century, flamenco “became free.”
• Castanets sounded in the cinema already in the 30s of the last century in the films “Daughter of Juan Simon”, “Maria de la O”, “Fandango spell”, where the main role was played by the magnificent Spanish flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya.
• Castanets are the most popular souvenir that tourists bring with them from sunny Spain.

Castanets performance

By Denitsa, Simona, Boyan, Viktoria.