Hand Clapping games are popular children’s songs that stand out for their worldwide diffusion since the 80s to the present. They are accompanied by gestures that have been studied and compiled, mainly by Hubbard (1982), Curtis (2004) and Gaunt (2006) in English, and Hemsy de Gainza (1996) in Spanish. Despite their interest in the literature, the classification of gestures based on choreography has not been studied. Being part of a PhD research by the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain) and the Alberto Hurtado University’s stay (Chile), this article presents, for the first time, the analysis of the choreographies and their relationship at the textual and melodic level of hand clapping games in Spanish focused on a deep investigation carried out in Chile and Spain. The results show five different choreographic styles: the basic choreography, the standard choreography, the cross choreography, the waving rocking choreography and finally the specific choreographies.
Keywords:
Hand Clapping Games, popular children's music, oral transmission, enculturation
Riera Martinez, J., & Casals Ibáñez, A. (2021). Choreography, Music… Action! Characterization and Gestural Patterns of Hand Clapping Games in Spanish. Revista Musical Chilena, 75(235), 101–131. Retrieved from https://revistamusicalchilena.uchile.cl/index.php/RMCH/article/view/56751
