The castanets are a common instrument in the traditional music of south Italy, for the dances as tammurriata or taranta , or to accompany songs. They are used in a different way then the spanish : the string is put around the middle finger, and it is loose enough to let the castanets hang a little from the finger ; you play it with your whole hand, closing it suddenly between the fingers and the hand's palm .They are used to give a strong, hypnotic rhythm under the music.
paola