Bodhran Drums
The Bodhran is an Irish drum with distinct characteristics that set it apart from other drums, from its appearance and playing style to how it looks when hanging from a tree branch.
Contrary to other drums, this one can only be played using your thumb and knuckles and not sticks. Furthermore, its unique wooden beater known as a tipper provides extra resistance when playing it.
Origins
The Bodhran (pronounced Bow-Rawn) is a frame drum from the family of frame drums. It consists of a circular wooden frame on which is stretched an animal skin; often goat, but also sometimes cow or dog hide is used.
Studies suggest the origins of grain winnowing stem from working tools; however, some believe a more musical background exists for this tradition.
Earlier references of bodhrans can be found in medical transcripts from the 15th century and in pictures by Irish portrait painter Maclise, among others. Prior to recently, most commonly associated with Irish Traditional Music sessions or occasional international gigs – until more recently when its presence became widespread across modern music genres as a versatile instrument that can be played both barehanded and with stick/beater/tippers – and modern musical genres alike.
Construction
The Bodhran is a frame drum made of goatskin stretched over a wooden hoop. It resembles a large tambourine without its jingles and is played using a beater known as a tipper.
Sean O Riada’s Ceoltoiri Chualann band in the early 1960s led to its swift rise in prominence. Now an integral component of modern Irish music, bodhran is now an integral part of contemporary Irish musical performance.
Bodhran skins typically consist of goatskin; however, other materials like calf, greyhound or even kangaroo or emu skin may also be used. Once soaked to become soft and flexible like chamois cloth, they’re stapled or tacked onto the drum rim and stapled closed; crossbars placed behind the skins were originally included to prevent warping of the rim; however today most drummakers remove them because they interfere with sound transmission.
Sound
Irish bodhran players have left an indelible mark on traditional music. Sean O Riada famously revived this frame drum into modern Irish music when he included arrangements for it into Ceoltoiri Chualann (later The Chieftains). Since then, other notable players including Peadar Mercier, Tommy Hayes and Johny Ringo McDonagh have taken this instrument to exciting new levels.
These musicians have greatly enhanced the sound of the bodhran by tuning it and using various playing techniques, as well as tuning its tuning mechanisms. Bodhrans can communicate various emotions ranging from urgent taps to melodious rings; their sound also depends on the weather; dry conditions can tighten goatskin skin which produces weak and thin tones while wet conditions loosen it, leading to deeper sounds.
Techniques
There are three primary hand techniques for striking the bodhran drum, depending on how your left hand is held; depending on this choice, different pitches and tonal qualities can be produced from it.
One such style is Kerry or West Limerick style. Another approach is top-end style, wherein a player’s skin hand moves around the drum head to hit specific spots for high pitches. Furthermore, their hand may help amplify sound by creating a C shape against its back side to increase volume of sound produced by drum.
For best results when learning these techniques, it is wise to find an experienced bodhran teacher and watch professional bodhran players play. This will give you a clear idea of how the instrument should be played before trying your own variations and creating your own style of bodhran playing.
Styles
Sean O Riada and Ceoltoiri Chualann’s exploration of bodhran techniques and styles elevated it to levels rarely seen before or since.
Modern bodhran drums have evolved into more intricate instruments made with exquisite tonewoods, complete with tuning systems to regulate their quality of sound. As for playing styles, modern players may use left-hand pressure on the skin of the instrument to alter timbre and pitch; strike precise regions on the drum head; even add rhythmic patterns independent from their tune including counter rhythm.
Players like Peadar Mercier of The Chieftains, Christy Moore from Planxty and Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh from De Dannan have further refined these techniques.
