Castanets made by José Torregrosa Moltó,
following his own method.
Specials thanks to Elena, my daughter, she helped me to translate this post.
In Spain we are very familiar with castanets, they are part of our idiosyncrasies, but perhaps in other countries they seems an unusual and primitive instrument. Instrument is, and primitive almost, some historians attribute its origins to the Phoenicians.
Although that daily they used as accompaniment to folk dances, can also be soloist instrument with symphonic compositions, but this is another story. There are a very few people in the world trained for play it. To learn how to play them well you have to go to a Conservatory.
There is another kind of castanets, which the percussionists use of some symphony orchestras, to accentuate the spaniard nature of some compositions.
José Torregrosa called that parts as different way, as he wrote it: "my way" (Notebook - Annex 1).
Although that daily they used as accompaniment to folk dances, can also be soloist instrument with symphonic compositions, but this is another story. There are a very few people in the world trained for play it. To learn how to play them well you have to go to a Conservatory.
If you like this type of music, you can see the video below. Part of the charity concert: "Voices for peace 2007". With the collection, it was acquired a mobile health unit to Huancavelica (Peru).
Note: If you can’t see it, you must change server.
Intermediate - The wedding of Luis Alonso
Music composer:Jerónimo Giménez
Orchestra: (solidarity musicians)
Conductor: Enrique García Asensio
Castanets: Lucero Tena
Castanets for Orchestra
Once submitted this nice tool, let's see if we are able to make it.
For this we count with a manual, a jewel that José Torregrosa wrote and drew for ... somebody.
When I returned from my vacation in early September, a marriage of co-workers, told me that the father of him, who was also our co-worker to, was enthusiast of the carving, having write and draw a manual to describe how make a castanets at detail.
Naturally I was very interested this theme, so much that they gave me the manuscript and some castanets, encouraging me to publish this post.
José Torregrosa Moltó was born on December 9, 1924 in San Vicente del Raspeig (Alicante), where he died on June 28, 1998. He was passionate about wood and he was practice this hobby in his free time. What he liked the most was the carving. Here you can see some of his works:
What he loved the most was make castanets, whose construction manual I show you below.
The parts of castanets are:
José Torregrosa called that parts as different way, as he wrote it: "my way" (Notebook - Annex 1).
Well, there goes that!:
Fancy?
Then...
Get to work!
You will be able to make a nice gift!
