Castanets

Castanets (pronounced " Kastanjetten ", after the French castagnettes; Spanish: castañuelas ) pairs to be played rattling, which are particularly suited for rhythmic accompaniment.

The percussion instrument consists of two shell-like hollow shells ( conchas ), which are usually made ​​of hard wood, but now often made ​​from fiberglass reinforced plastic. The attached at one end of ribbon that connects the two Kastagnettenblätter each other, the mussels are on a finger (usually the thumb, still earlier, and in certain regional dances on the middle finger ) attached, and allowed to use the other fingers against each other fast. In this way, the player leaves the shells quickly and rhythmically knock together, creating a tremolo sound. If the player holds castanets in both hands, the two bowl pairs can be struck against each other. Kastagnettenpaare consist of a deeper, the macho (male ) and higher, the hembra ( female). Through a clever technique and different timbres can be produced.

A simplified version of the Castanets with Handle, which are much easier to play, but only a single type of sound produce. They are used in the orchestra.

The castanets probably from the Orient, where they are very popular as makkara while dancing. They were already known to the Egyptians and Greeks. In Spain they are occupied since the 1st century BC. There she received the name Castañuelas because of their similarity with chestnuts. In Andalusia they are also called Palillos ( " stick ").

The use of castanets is widespread in the southern Spanish dance music (Flamenco, Sevillana ), but also in southern Italy (Naples) known.

A similar function had the Krotalon in the music of the ancient world.