BONES INSTRUMENT
The bones, also known as rhythm bones, are a folk instrument that, in their original form, consists of a pair of animal bones, but may also be played on pieces of wood or similar material. Sections of large rib bones and lower leg bones are the most commonly used bones, although wooden sticks shaped like true bones are now more often used. Metal spoons may be used instead, as is common in the United States, known as "playing the spoons". The technique probably arrived in the U.S. via Irish and other European immigrants, and has a history stretching back to ancient China, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. They have contributed to many music genres, including 19th century minstrel shows, traditional Irish and Scottish music, the blues, bluegrass, zydeco, French-Canadian music, and music from Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. The clacking of the loose rib bones produces a much sharper sound than the zydeco washboard or frottoir, which mimics rattling a bone up and down a fixed ribcage.
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1910
BONES Sonorous Substances. Europe. Four pieces of the ribs of horses or oxen held in the hand, and struck together for the purpose of marking time in accompaniment to the voice or another instrument. Bones are of ancient use in England, and are alluded to by Shakespeare in the fourth act of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," as forming one means of rustic music. In figures described by Inigo Jones for the court masques, a character is represented playing upon the knicky-knackers of bone or wood. The term " knicky-knackers" used by the country folk may have had its origin in the name " Nakerer," for in Strutt's Sports and Pastimes a payment is recorded as being made to Janino C. Nakerer, one of the minstrels of Edward II. The minstrels frequently indulged in burlesque music, and Janino may have performed upon the bones.
A rude instrument composed of several bones hung on a cord and played by rubbing with a stick was formerly used in Madeira to accompany the guitar. The name refers to castanets at times.
Musical instruments
frederick stock
La historia americana y la enciclopedia de la música.
por Hubbard, WL (William Lines), b. 1867 ; Andrews, George W ; Dickinson, Edward, 1853-1946 ; Foote, Arthur, 1853-1937 ; Green, Janet M ; Thrall, Josephine ; Liebling, Emil, 1851-1914
Fecha de publicación 1910.
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