I am often asked how to tie the knot on a pair of the castanets strings.  Because it's not just an average every day knot.  You can find out how at the end of this post.

Now raise your hand

Raise your hand if you tried to play the toque for the first sevillana, the one I posted last week

And, as promised, below is how we play castanets for the second copla.

It's written in two different ways.  The reason for that is here.

Way 1

I can't help but think about Dr. Seuss when I write that...

La Segunda

Ta ria chi pam ta ria pita

Ria pam pam Ta ria ria pita

Ta ria ria pita

Ta ria ria pita ta ria pita

Ria chi pam ta ria pita

 

Ria ria pita ria ria pita

Ria ria pi pam ta ria

Pam ta ria pam ta ria

Pam ta ria pam ta ria

Ta ria pam ta ria pita

Ria chi pam ta ria pita

 

Ria ria pita ria ria pita

Ria ria pi pam ta ria

Pam ta ria pam ta ria

Pam ta ria pam ta ria

Pam ta ria pam ta ria pita ria

Pam ta ria pam

Way two

La Segunda again

1er tercio

1      2      3      1      2      3

Ta ria    chi  pam  ta   ria pi 

1      2      3      1      2      3

Ta ria    pam pam   

1      2      3      1      2      3

Ta  ria   ria  pita

1      2      3      1      2      3

Ta  ria   ria  pita

1      2      3      1      2      3

Ta  ria   ria  pita    ta    ria pi        

1      2      3      1      2      3

Ta ria    chi  pam  ta    ria pi

1      2      3      1      2      3

2° tercio

Ta ria   ria   pita   ria    ria pi

1      2      3      1      2      3

Ta  ria   ria piPam  ta    ria    

1      2      3      1      2      3

Pam ta  ria   pam  ta    ria 

1      2      3      1      2      3

Pam ta  ria   pam  ta    ria pi 

1      2      3      1      2      3

Ta  ria         pam  ta    ria pi 

1      2      3      1      2      3

Ta ria    chi  pam  ta    ria pi

3er tercio

1      2      3      1      2      3

Ta ria   ria   pita   ria    ria pi

1      2      3      1      2      3

Ta  ria   ria piPam  ta    ria

1      2      3      1      2      3

Pam ta  ria   pam  ta    ria 

1      2      3      1      2      3

Pam ta  ria   pam  ta    ria 

1      2      3      1      2      3

Pam ta  ria   pam  ta    ria pi 

1      2      3      1      2      3       

Ta   ria          Pam  ta   ria   

1

Pam

Tying the Knot

This comes up sometimes, often times.

How to tie the knot on one's castanet strings.

You would think I would be better at it, but it still confuses me.  Thank goodness for everyone helping each other out all of the time.  I know many of you like figuring stuff out on your own and have learned how to do this by carefully untying your castanets while paying close attention to just how those knots were made.  That can be fun.

Still ...

If you've tried that and it drove you crazy, or if you don't have access to a pair of castanets with the strings tied, this resource from Maria Vega will show you what to do.

An Invitation

... to do two things.  Do both, or just choose one!

  1. Try out the toque then let me know how it works in the comments. Did you prefer Way 1 or Way 2?

  2. There are all kinds of videos out there of people dancing sevillanas with castañuelas. Do a search on YouTube, and share a favorite below.

You can do all of that in the comments.

Comment