Castanets

Castanets are centuries-old, with their earliest recorded history dating to over 1000 B.C. Castanets are considered perhaps the most sophisticated of percussion instruments. These instruments thrived in the countries surrounding the basin of the Mediterranean: Greece, Turkey, Italy,and Spain. Over the cause of history Spain has conversed and developed their use, and Castanets are now considered the national instrument of the country.

Castanets consist of two pairs of cup shaped pieces of special wood, chestnut is commonly used.They are drilled to receive a cord, which is looped round the thumb. Castanets usually differ slightly in pitch the lower (male) and higher (female). The cups hang downwards in the hand and are manipulated by the fingers!