Apr 16 2009
Castañuelas (Castanets), not as Spanish as I had first thought!
When I was a little girl (more than 30 years ago!!), I had my own ‘traje de faralaes’ or, as we used to name it, ‘traje de gitana’ (which could be something like ‘gypsy dress’ (for girls). It was very common in all this country, but I don’t know why, as this is the typical flamenco dress, which is in fact from the South of Spain (Andalucía) and I live in the North!
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So, one of the accessories we all had, apart from ‘la peineta’ and those red shoes, was ‘las castañuelas’ or castanets. I had always thought the castanets were an instrument exclusively related to Spain, Andalucía and those wonderful ‘trajes de gitana’. I was wrong.
I’ve just read this percussion instrument has been used during the ancient Roman, Portuguese or Italian cultures!
And I have also learned something new: although we have always referred to the castanets using the term “castañuelas”, people from the South of Spain (Andalucía) use the word ‘palillos’ (little sticks).
I guess the ‘castañuelas’ are so popular in Spain due to flamenco music and dance.
More information about the ‘castañuelas’ :
- Castanets, percussion instrument - Includes castanets audio files.
- How to play castanet: Putting on & Wearing Castanets . (Video)
- Castanets in flamenco - A little bit more technical information. They also sell them.
