The Spanish tambourine, the pandereta,
is usually 10-12 inches (25 cm-30 cm) in diameter,
with usually a staggered row of jingles, and is held
in the Oriental grip. In Galicia, the northwestern
corner of Spain, the technique involves holding the
pandereta (also spelled pandeireta)
in the right hand while often keeping the left hand
stationary (but some players do use the left hand
for holding and the right hand for playing). In this
manner, the right hand moves the pandereta
around the left hand to execute a variety of duple
and triple rhythms. The thumb and middle finger of
the left hand are also used to articulate rhythms
across the surface of the skin and the instrument
can also be shaken and beaten much in the way a common
tambourine is played. In Basque Country, northern
Spain just left of the border with France, a technique
used for playing the pandereta (also spelled
panderoa) involves bouncing the tips of the
middle and/or ring fingers across the skin in alternation
with the thumb for duple rhythms with the right hand
(if the instrument is held with the right, either
hand can be used for holding). In Asturias, northern
Spain just next to Galicia, the pandereta
is used in annual festivals. The pandereta
from Asturias and Cantabria usually have smaller jingles
than those found on pandereta in Basque Country
and Galicia. Other areas in Northern Spain where the
pandereta is played include Zaragoza (Saragossa)
and Catalonia.
In southern Spain, there is a old
tradition of in Sevilla (Seville) where pandereta
are played as a common tambourine (beaten, shaken,
and struck) while dancing without any of the techniques
from northern Spain.
The terms pandeiro and pandeireta
may be used generically in both Spain or Portugal
indicating tambourine. Basque terms for tambourine
also include panderoa and pandero.
The Galician term is pandeireta and also
pandera (pandeira used to refer
to large tambourines). Pandereta is used
in Asturias. Terminology can be confusing for non-natives.
Different terms and spellings are often based on regional
(and historical) differences, the size of a particular
drum, and feminine vs. masculine language practice.
The top photo is a pandeireta
from Galicia. The middle photo is of pandereta
from Asturias.
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