What is a Bodhran?
A bodhran is a flat drum that resembles a large tambourine without the bells and is played by resting it on one leg and striking it with a beater.
It is an intriguing and complex instrument. This paper seeks to examine it objectively and critically by considering everything known about it.
Origins
There isn’t a great deal of information available regarding the origins of the bodhran, though there are a few theories as to its creation. One is that it may have evolved from trade relations that brought tambourines from Spain into Ireland; another suggests it might have been used for dyeing wool with dye drums.
The traditional method for playing the bodhran was with flat hands or finger tips; today it’s more often done using a stick called a “cipin,” commonly referred to as a beater or tipper. An ideal length cipin should extend from thumb tip to baby finger tip on an outstretched hand.
Since the 1960’s, the bodhran has experienced an exponential surge in its popularity thanks to Sean O Riada (invoked through Ceoltoiri Chualann) and Peadar Mercier (Played with Chieftains).
Materials
Bodhrans are traditionally constructed from stretched goat skin that has been treated, although today there are also models constructed from materials like emu, kangaroo and greyhound skins. But goat skin remains the preferred material.
The best bodhrans produce an array of tones depending on how the drum is played, making for an impressive range of musical tones and genres that use it. While Irish music may often associate itself with bodhran, this drum can also be utilized by musical groups of other kinds.
Images of bodhrans dating from before the nineteenth century are scarce, but Daniel Maclise’s 1833 painting Snapp-Apple Night, depicting a house party on Halloween featuring a bodhran, may be one of the earliest depictions.
Techniques
Bodhrans are drums typically crafted out of goat or calf skin stretched over a wooden frame and tuned with one or more tuning pins to change pitch and timbre, as well as having either one or two crossbars inside its frame for playing purposes. A player usually strikes it using either their hand, or with an instrument called a tipper (pronounced kip-EEN) held like a pencil to generate sound waves within its boundaries.
Bodhran players such as Peadar Mercier of the Chieftains, Christy Moore from Planxty and De Dannan’s Johnny McDonagh developed new playing techniques that remain widely employed today. Their work included influences from contemporary music while boasting significant tonal differences between drum parts.
To tune a non-tunable bodhran, it must first be dampened down, which loosens its skin and dampens overtones. Next, its rim should be covered with electrical tape in order to reduce edge-loading and dampen unwanted overtones from atmospheric changes.
Styles
A bodhran is a round drum with either one or two crossbars and an outer skin called the tympanum, usually featuring a flat bottom. Constructed with wood frames for durability and tuning purposes, its range of playing styles makes for versatile performance.
Historically, the bodhran was traditionally played using only one hand; today however, most performers use a cipin stick called an “instrument player.” There are three hand styles and five stick styles of playing the bodhran.
Bodhran players like Peadar Mercier, Johnny Ringo McDonagh and Tommy Hayes have elevated the Irish drum to new levels. Their innovative playing shows high tonal differences while remaining either groovy or restrained depending on the context of their performance – inspiring many other bodhranists to advance their bodhran skills further.
Sounds
The Bodhran is one of the oldest drums ever developed and comprises a round wooden frame drum with an attached goat skin head tacked to one side, played using a beater called a Cipin.
Historically, bodhran players used their bare hand to play the drum. By varying hand position and pressure, various sounds were produced: heel of hand creates sharp beats while flat of hand produces more muffled sounds.
Peadar Mercier, Johnny McDonagh and John Joe Kelly have significantly advanced both the sound and technique of modern bodhrans through their contributions. These musicians have greatly advanced Irish culture. This work can be seen reflected in modern bodhrans that showcase their sound.
