Castagnette

As Printed on a Score

Labels the castanets (Castagnette, or Nacchere; Cast. later), on a single line with rhythms notated exactly and rolls written as tremolo. Orchestral players often use castanets mounted on a handle or a board rather than hand-held pairs.

Abbreviations: Cast.

Also spelled: Nacchere

How Composers Use It

Castanets bring an unmistakable Spanish colour — Bizet’s Carmen, Ravel’s Rapsodie espagnole. Their sound is dry and very short, so they articulate rhythm rather than sustain anything, and fast rolls need practice to stay even. Use them where the dance rhythm itself is the point, and sparingly, because the association is so strong that a few bars can define a whole passage.

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