What is the Bodhran?
The Bodhran is an Irish drum made of goat skin stretched over a wooden frame. It resembles a large tambourine without its jingles.
Bodhran players typically employ a beater when performing the drumming action of their instrument, typically an extended double-ended stick held by them and held in their hand while performing.
Origins
There are various theories surrounding the origins of the bodhran. While some claim it to be directly descended from African drums, others speculate it could have come into Ireland on one of the major trade routes or have even been converted from grain winnowers into musical seisun drums by Wren Boys and Mummers as part of seisun performances.
No matter its origins, the Irish frame drum has evolved into an instrument uniquely Irish with unique playing techniques found nowhere else in the world. Additionally, its prominence in contemporary music can be seen with notable players like Peadar Mercier or Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh becoming household names while during the 1960s-70s it began its transition from being used only ritualistically into becoming part of Irish Traditional Music.
Construction
A bodhran is a frame drum with dimensions between 25 cm and 65 cm in diameter and 9-20 cm depth on its sides, featuring a goatskin head attached at one end.
Sean O Riada introduced the bodhran into modern Irish music only during the 1960s, when Ceoltoiri Chualann (The Chieftains) started using it. At first it served simply as a noisemaker at harvest festivals or other events.
Nowadays it has become common practice for drum makers to cover the rim of a bodhran with electrical tape to reduce “edge loading” and dampen unwanted overtones while prolonging skin life. Goatskin was traditionally used because it expands and contracts in response to changes in temperature resulting in its own unique sound signature that differentiated each drum’s sound from others.
Sounds
Bodhrans can be heard playing an essential part in Irish folk and contemporary songs by U2, The Chieftains, Sinead O’Connor and Sinead O’Connor among many others. Additionally they’re used in Irish step dance performances as well as traditional Irish sports like hurling and Gaelic football.
Although bodhran is less visually arresting than its more visually spectacular cousins, snare drums, it still boasts its own distinct sound when tuned, which has altered how this instrument is played from ritualistic use into an instrument associated with music performance.
The rise in popularity of the bodhran can be partially attributed to musicians like Sean O Riada from Cork who added it into their repertoire and by internationally available LP recordings of bodhran players showcasing its sounds.
Techniques
The quality of sound produced by bodhran depends on its player, who must possess skill and practice to elicit optimal sound output. A great deal of work goes into refining playing techniques in order to produce balanced tones with good control over variation, speed resistance and relaxation.
Listening to music can help hone your bodhran skills. Listening carefully to other players on the track can give you ideas about how you can more precisely and precisely match the tempo of each tune when performing rolls on the bodhran.
Enhance your bodhran skills by practicing jigs and paying close attention to how the player highlights the natural rhythm of a tune’s melody. Doing this will enable you to add accent patterns and triplets that add visual interest and depth.
Music
Irish musicians such as Sean O Riada, Mel Mercier, Peadar and Christy Moore have revolutionized bodhran music with their innovations on this instrument. These legendary players have developed new playing techniques while pushing forward its boundaries.
It is believed that the Bodhran originated from Africa through Spain and was brought to Ireland by traders. At first used as a noisemaker by Celtic warriors en route to battle or during musical sesuns by Wren boys and Mummers alike.
A bodhran is played using a small stick called a cipin, with two main playing styles: using both ends or only one end at once – although both can also be combined at once!
