The Bodhran is an iconic symbol of Irish identity and frequently appears in tourism advertising campaigns as well as cultural events and festivals.

Sean O Riada is widely credited with popularising the bodhran in the 1960s. Later, players such as Peadar Mercier of Chieftains fame and De Dannan’s Johnny McDonagh developed their playing techniques further.

Origins

Once used for winnowing (separating wheat from chaff), the bodhran became an instrument during Ireland’s folk music revival of the mid 20th century. With its versatile ability to produce various tones depending on pressure applied beneath, its magical sound production ranges from urgent taps to melodious ringing beats.

James Schiller argues that as musicians refined and improved their playing techniques, and sought to upgrade the quality of their instruments. By the 1960s bodhrans were widely available commercially; groups such as The Chieftains and Planxty even used them in their music performances.

The Bodhran has long been a mainstay in Irish music tradition and more recently other Celtic cultures such as Scotland, Cape Breton and Nova Scotia. Additionally, its use can be found in folk, pop and rock music – whether preserving traditions or crafting something entirely new, its rhythmic pulse will add something special to your tunes.

Sound

The bodhran is one of the few instruments capable of unifying musicians and audiences instantly in both informal sessions and formal performances due to its ability to reflect both tempo and mood of musical composition, creating an impression of unified sound.

Sean O Riada first earned fame through his bodhran playing with Ceoltoiri Chualann, featuring members of The Chieftains. Widely considered the father of modern bodhran playing, his influence led to this frame drum appearing more frequently among Irish traditional music bands.

Bodhrans have become incredibly popular worldwide, particularly in the US and Norway. Norwegian maker Bjarne Stensrud specializes in crafting his own custom bodhrans using reindeer skin from Norway’s west coast – having worked as stage manager at Oslo Nye Teater as well as Lillehammer and Atlanta Olympic Games, Stensrud brings an abundance of experience into his craft.

Technique

The bodhran is the heart of Irish folk music, providing rhythmic support for traditional melodies. Due to its versatility and adaptability, bodhrans have also become beloved instruments in more contemporary genres of music as well. At Muzikkon we specialize in offering high-quality bodhrans to musicians looking to push traditional genres further while honoring its heritage.

The drum is played using a small wooden stick known as a cipin, tipper or beater. While playing by hand can work just fine, most players opt for sitting position so as to have more control over movement of sticks and manoeuvres of drumsticks.

Professional bodhranists typically possess an individual playing style that emphasizes and ornaments the natural rhythms of tunes. According to Mike O’Regan, playing the bodhran should not try to drive a beat like a rock drummer; rather, it should match and embellish it.” To master such an artful instrument it’s essential to listen and learn from other bodhranists as well as practice diligently – listen carefully when other bodhranists play and observe other professionals if you intend on becoming one yourself!

Buying a Bodhran

A bodhran is a circular drum featuring a goat skin head on one side and can be played using either a beater or tipper stick. As with most frame drums, bodhrans are wider than they are deep with open ends to enable players to place their hand directly on the skin for various effects.

During the folk music revival of the 1960s, bodhrans gained tremendous renown. It ushered in a unique playing style which harnessed all its musical potential.

McNeela offers an expansive selection of bodhrans to meet the needs of both newcomers and experienced players alike. Additionally, our beaters produce various sounds which can help maximize your enjoyment from this wonderful instrument. Our experts can recommend which beater best meets your requirements; but for maximum effectiveness it is advised that you try several out to find your ideal beater.

Please follow and like us: