The rhythmic clicking of castanets is inseparably linked to the fire and
passion of Flamenco music. But the bright, crisp sound of these traditional
Spanish instruments lends itself to a surprisingly wide variety of musical
styles. For example, the classic ‘60s rock hit “Be My Baby" features highly
prominent castanets along with its pounding drums.
Traditional castanets are held between the fingers and the palm of the hand,
with a string wrapped around one or more of the fingers. Playing them in
this fashion requires a good deal of technique. Heck, just getting them on
and off takes some doing.
Toca’s new Piccolo Castanets (T2301) on the other hand, are designed to make
it easy for drummers or percussionists to have quick access to the sound of
castanets. The specially selected rosewood castanets are mounted on a 7
3⁄4"-long, mongo wood handle. This allows them to be picked up, played, and
put down again easily with one hand. The castanets themselves are smaller
than standard-size models, resulting in quick, responsive action and a
bright, dry “click" sound that projects extremely well.
Toca’s Piccolo Castanets feature an attractive dark matte finish that
contrasts with the lighter, highly grained look of their handle. Sold singly
at a list price of $19, they’re the perfect addition to a drummer or
percussionist’s bag of tricks.
