Tying the Knot (& How to Play Castanets for the Second Sevillanas)
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!
Try out the toque then let me know how it works in the comments. Did you prefer Way 1 or Way 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.