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Traditional Mallorcan object

Castanyetes

At a glance

Castanets. In Mallorca they say castanyetes (DCVB, pl., Mall.), not castanyoles (in Mallorca castanyola is a plant or a fish). They are played by the ball de…

Objects and tools
Traditional Mallorcan object
Words
ball de bot, castanyeta, castanyetes, castanyetes de test, «Es floc ha de dir amb ses castanyetes», «Més xalest que unes castanyetes»
Events
2
castanets
castanets — Museum of Popular Beliefs and Religiosity of the Aragonese Pyrenees, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/, Museum of Popular Beliefs and Religiosity of the Aragonese Pyrenees (vía Europeana/CER.ES)

What is

Castanets. In Mallorca they say castanyetes (DCVB, pl., Mall.), not castanyoles (in Mallorca castanyola is a plant or a fish). They are played by the ball de bot dancers themselves (be sure to check in which dances: boleros, jotes, fandangos).

How is

  • Shape: two concave shell-shaped pieces, joined by a cord that passes through two ears.
  • Material: hardwood (Majorcan species to be verified; ullastre/olive tree cited without source).
  • Children's variant: test castanyetes: two pieces of broken ceramic between the fingers that children make sound like castanets (DCVB, Mall.).
  • Unverified measurements.

How is fa

Hardwood carving and turning. There is no verified Majorcan builder; They are bought outside or in folklore stores (do check). Nearby trade: torners , oliver whip .

Com s'usa

  • Gesture: the cord is passed through the thumb; the other fingers hit the shells. It is played while dancing, marking the rhythm with the body.
  • Context: ball de bot, with xeremies or with sonadors (guitar, guitarró, violin; check training).

Vocabulary

  • castanyetes: castanets (Mall.).
  • castanyetes de test: pieces of ceramic used as castanets by children.
  • castanyeta: in Mallorca also pot-bellied bottle (DCVB).
  • «Més xalest que unes castanyetes»: very happy (Mall.).
  • «Es floc ha de dir amb ses castanyetes»: saying: two things that must go together (DCVB).
  • ball de bot: Majorcan popular dance.

History

  • Without verified documentary date for Mallorca.
  • Years 1950-1970: the ball de bot takes refuge in folklore groups (to verify).
  • Since the 1980s: popular revival of ballades in the squares (please verify date).

On veure'n

Why is it design

  • Instrument in the dancer's hand: the body that dances is the one that makes the music.
  • Minimum material: two wooden shells and a cord.
  • Waste toy: the test version uses broken ceramic; nothing is thrown away.

For the project

  • Look for a castanyetes builder on the island (folkloric groups, Manacor torners).
  • Piece: Majorcan olive castanyetes with a torner from the island, as a design object.

Frequently asked questions

What is Castanyetes?

Castanets. In Mallorca they say castanyetes (DCVB, pl., Mall.), not castanyoles (in Mallorca castanyola is a plant or a fish). They are played by the ball de…

What are the traditional words for Castanyetes?

Some words: ball de bot, castanyeta, castanyetes, castanyetes de test, «Es floc ha de dir amb ses castanyetes», «Més xalest que unes castanyetes».

Sources

Working text from the Disseny Indígena knowledge base, machine-translated from Spanish.

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