Spanish musical instruments: types, description, playing technique

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The music of Spain is very brightly emotionally colored, it is full of fire and passion, has a clear rhythm and complex string parts. From these sounds, the legs seem to start dancing on their own! This article presents the main Spanish musical instruments, and photos with names.

In different parts of the country, once under the rule of the Saracens, a special melodic character is heard, different from the rest of Spain. For example:

• Castile - known for its smooth flowing vocal trills played against a melody with a complex, broken rhythm;
• Catalonia - fanned by melodic Moorish tunes;
• Andalusia - famous for its expressive melodies, abruptly changing from daring gaiety to languid sadness;
• Aragon - music expresses a stormy fun irrepressible will to live.

List of Spanish musical instruments

These instruments include the bandurria. It is a real national heritage of the country. Represents a pinchan instrument similar to the mandolin. Sound production - tremolo. The French mandoire and the Spanish manduria (bandurria) had one history for two until the 16th century. But with the advent of "Baroque", a bandurria was created with a flat body and five pairs of strings built into a quart. Prior to this, medieval Spanish musical instruments had only three strings. With the advent of the "renaissance" another string was added. During the entire existence of the instrument, more than one modernization was made, and the modern bandurria has six paired strings that sound in unison.

Guitar. It is a stringed plucked instrument that is used for both accompaniment and solo playing. The guitar has greatly influenced the development of world musical culture, and is used in many modern styles. The appearance of the electric guitar made a special sensation, without which it is difficult to imagine rock, blues or country music. At the moment there are so many styles and techniques of playing the guitar.

In our time, there are these types of tools:

• Spanish guitar (10-12 strings);
• Russian guitar (7 strings);
• Classical guitar;
• Electric guitar (6 strings);
• Bass - guitar (4-5 strings);
• Ukulele (6 strings).

Spanish guitar

It is believed that the idea of the Spanish guitar was once "peeped" by a talented master from the Arabs. In the Middle Ages, the instrument evolved and underwent multiple changes, eventually turning into a modern instrument.six-string.

The Spanish-made guitar with five pairs of strings became widespread in the middle of the 15th century. And at the end of the 18th century it was upgraded to six single strings. Thanks to the famous guitarist Mauro Giuliani who lived at that time, who virtuously performed musical parts, many wonderful melodies were created, and the repertoire expanded significantly.

This Spanish musical instrument can be talked about endlessly. But another invention of this people deserves no less attention.

Spanish percussion instrument

The most important cultural item of this unique country is castanets (castanetas). This is an instrument consisting of two concave shells - planks looking at each other, which are connected from above with a cord. Castanets are popular in southern Italy and Latin America.

These Spanish musical instruments are worn on the hands, which is strikingly different from other percussion instruments. Similar devices were used in the rhythmic songs and dances of the ancient world.

Castanet plates have long been made from hardwood, but nowadays the traditional material is increasingly being replaced by fiberglass and metal. For the convenience of playing in a symphony orchestra, a special “castanet-machine” was invented, in which the instrument is mounted on a stand.

This is exactly the kind of musical instrument that Spanish dancers use in their full of passiondancing.

Castanets come in two types:

• Macho - large, which are clamped in the left hand. They tap the main dance movement;
• Hembra - small, which are usually clamped in the right hand. They are given the role of playing a changeable musical theme.

For song accompaniment, they are used extremely rarely, or they sound only in between roulades.

The use of castanets in classical dances

• Without this Spanish musical instrument, it is simply impossible to imagine any melody or dance of this people. After all, when this incendiary music sounds, the image of a sultry gypsy girl, with a rose in blue-black hair, passionately performing flamenco, is instantly drawn in her head.

  French composer J. Bizet in his opera "Carmen", specially added castanets to convey the southern European flavor.

  In ballroom and stage folk dances, they are used by both dancers and orchestra musicians, such as in the ballets Laurence, Lame Demon, Don Quixote and The Hunt of Aragon.

  In general, the ethnic dances of Spain are an all-consuming fire raging in the heart of every inhabitant of it. The country's culture has absorbed oriental motifs, hence its unique, incomparable musical and dance style.

  There are several categories in Spanish dances, these are:

• Flamenco - absorbed the traditions of the peoples who once lived in the territorycountries. It is believed that it was the gypsies who invented it;
• Classical dance (Estilizacion) - combines the best of flamenco, folklore and ballet. The choreography of movements is clear and honed to perfection, performed to the works of Spanish composers;
• Dances of the 18th century are short etudes, in which there are always boots with spurs and a Spanish musical instrument - castanets;
• Ballet - combines several dance techniques at once: modern dance, jazz and flamenco. It expresses the true temperament of this people, seasoned with elegance of movement and skill;
• Folklore dances (bolero, paso doble, sarabande and others) occupy a special place in the development of culture, so each should be told in detail.

Bolero

The name of the dance comes from the word Volar - a flight, during which, it seems that the artists seem to hover over the stage. It is accompanied by the magical sounds of the Spanish guitar and clicks of castanets. Usually several couples dance.

Paso Doble

The idea for this dance to the Spaniards was prompted by the battle of two bulls. The participants seem to compete with each other, the steps are performed rigidly and clearly, the chest proudly protrudes forward, and the shoulders are retracted. Chased step is the basis of the dance. The paso doble is full of expression, as if the man is a bullfighter in it, and the woman is his red cape.

Sarabande

In Spain, this dance appeared already in the XII century, it was based on noise. It is seasoned with graceful femininebody movements, which are accompanied by songs of a frank nature, so for a long time the sarabande was banned in Catholic Spain. Perhaps that is why the dance took root perfectly at the court of Louis XIV, and over time, having undergone multiple metamorphoses, eventually became a favorite among the dances of the Madrid court.

This is an extended list of Spanish musical instruments, dances and their territorial features.