A simple percussion instrument that was invented in Spain and used during the performance of Spanish dances is castanets. They not only set the rhythm of movements and add a special touch to the dance. Castanets are an invariable attribute of national dances, which today are popular not only in the country where they were born, but also in Italy and many countries of Latin America.
Castanet Origin History
Castanets are two wooden shells connected by a rope that is worn on the thumb. The musical instrument got its name from the Spanish word castañetas, which means "chestnut". Initially, castanets were made only from chestnut wood, then other types of trees began to be used - walnut, rosewood, granadillo. Today castanets are often made of fiberglass.
The sound from the castanet is extracted thanks to two hollow halves, so they relate to idiophonic musical instruments. Castanets are one of the oldest tools, since their image is found on the frescoes of Ancient Greece and Egypt. According to another version, the musical instrument was brought from the travels of Christopher Columbus after the discovery of the New World. Therefore, it is difficult to pinpoint the true homeland of the instrument, but it is the Spanish dance with castanets - flamenco - that is known throughout the world.
How to play the castanets
The ancient history of castanets and centuries-old use have little changed the principle of playing this instrument. Like many centuries ago, today there are two types of games:
- The classic way of playing the castanets involves mounting the instrument on the thumb of the right hand, grabbing the shell with the other four fingers. The sound is extracted precisely thanks to the movement of the fingers.
- The folk method helps to extract louder sounds from the castanet. The instrument’s ribbon is also attached to one or several fingers, but the game is played by the movement of the brush, not the fingers.
Spanish castanets are used in dancing in two ways, even today there is no clear preference for this or that method. From the beginning of the 17th century, castanets began to be used in ballet performances and to accompany the play of orchestras. Modern orchestras use special castanets, which help to extract a characteristic sound without human intervention.
Features of national dance
Dance with castanets is difficult to confuse or not to recognize, even the first steps and sounds of music conjure up the national flavor of Spain. As a rule, women dance flamenco. Their red-black outfits are mesmerizing, and confident clear incendiary movements capture the eyes of the audience. The bright scarlet flower in black hair, the mischievous look of the dancer and the movement of the dance seem to create a separate world in which there is no place for outsiders. There is only her, music and the frantic rhythm of castanets.
It is interesting to observe when one woman is dancing flamenco, but the group of several dancers causes delight and awe. Their unusual appearance and harmonious movements to the beat of tapping the castanet are fascinating. Today, other styles and movements from various dances are mixed with Spanish flamenco, but the original Spanish national dance with castanets remains a unique sight that does not need improvements.
History of Spanish Flamenco
Despite the fact that Spain is rich in musical instruments and varieties of dances, it is flamenco that is considered the national symbol of this country. Castanets are an invariable attribute of such dances, in addition to which only exhaustive guitars sounded. These two musical instruments were enough, because all the beauty and charm of the dance consisted of a bright girl performing simple, but incendiary and full of passion movements.
Part of the movements and dance traditions remained in flamenco even from the movements of the Iberians - the inhabitants who inhabited the territory of modern Spain before our era. But only in the 15th century, national dances became unified, gained recognizable features and similar movements. This is due to the settlement of Gypsies on these lands, with their color and vibrant traditions. They organized holidays and festivals that brightened up the difficult working life of the Spaniards.
Using castanets while dancing
Playing castanets while dancing requires attention and an inner sense of rhythm. Therefore, this combination is considered a difficult performance, which not all Spanish girls could do. Only real craftswomen skillfully combined passion and a whirlwind of their own movements with the simultaneous playing of castanets.
The most skilled professional dancers use two types of castanets to accompany music and their own movements: large and small. As a rule, a larger instrument lay in the left hand, which made it possible to extract a lower sound. In his right hand lay smaller castanets, the rhythm of which was faster, and the sound was higher. This combination creates an indescribable impression, and skillful professional performance to date fascinates everyone who manages to witness the Spanish flamenco.