What is a Bodhran?
The Bodhran is an Irish drum with dual musical and ritual purposes, used both musically and ritualistically. Its distinctive sound can convey emotion such as sobs, joyousness or calls to action – it can even serve as an alarm call! Pronounced “bow-rawn,” it’s an easy instrument that offers versatile play.
A bodhran consists of three components – a circular frame, drumhead and tipper beater – working in harmony to produce its distinctive sound that captures the spirit of Celtic Ireland.
It is a drum
A bodhran has long been the symbol of Irish music, thanks to Sean O Riada and Ceoltoiri Chualann’s efforts. These folk musicians brought Irish folk music from kitchens and pubs into concert halls, elevating its status to that of a major musical instrument – elevating its position within it.
The bodhran is played using only your hand and can be adjusted to different playing styles. For instance, hard beats are produced when using the heel of your hand as opposed to its flat palm surface producing softer sounds. Fingers also play an integral part, producing everything from soft taps and slides to hard rapping sounds.
Modern bodhrans often boast internal tone rings which can be adjusted by tightening or loosening screws to improve sound by eliminating “edge-loading,” a process which produces unwanted overtones. Furthermore, tape can also be wrapped around the drum’s rim to dampen vibrations and dampen sound – keeping your instrument in tune and shielding it against moisture damage.
It is a musical instrument
Innovative players and drum-makers have elevated the bodhran to new levels of quality and sound, including Seamus O’Kane, Darius Bartlett, Victor Barral and Christian Hedwitschak. These artists have integrated rhythms from other genres of Irish music into their playing, while Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh developed a dampening technique which can alter pitch and sound characteristics.
Modern bodhrans are usually played while sitting down, with the drum resting erect on one’s thigh and struck either with one’s hand or by using a wooden beater called a cipin. When used with both ends directly above one’s head, this style is known as Kerry or West Limerick style; when only one end is used it’s called top-end style; both styles allow players to create various sounds from hard striking to soft tappings and slides which enables them to tailor to songs or dance performances according to performance context.
It is a percussion instrument
The Bodhran is an Irish frame drum used since medieval times. Its use dates back centuries, after it first appeared as an indigenous agricultural tool used in agriculture. Today it serves many functions and its versatility allows its creators to make all kinds of sounds from hard taps to soft ringing beats; plus its round shape makes it easy for anyone, including beginners drummers, to use.
Traditional bodhrans were constructed with goat skin stretched over a wooden frame. Modern-day bodhrans are more complex musical instruments with numerous features; pitch and sound quality can be changed by altering the tension of their drumhead.
Recent years have witnessed an exponential expansion of bodhran playing thanks to creative players and tipper makers such as Peadar Mercier, Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh and John Joe Kelly – these innovators created more melodic styles of playing while adding fresh rhythms into traditional Irish music with their use of the bodhran.
It is a winnowing basket
A bodhran is a small round drum played with a stick. Originally popular during the great folk music revival of the 1960s, its popularity today extends far beyond these roots; complex playing styles now exist that fully explore its musical capabilities.
The Bodhran is an instrument widely associated with Irish traditional music, though originally it was designed as a winnowing basket to separate grain from chaff and allow farmers to determine how much seed was covered by hard, spikey coverings. Since its creation it has since become an indispensable instrument of ritual performances such as St Brigid’s Day (La Fheile Bride) or Wren Boys traditions.
Johnny McDonagh is one of Ireland’s premier bodhran players, having pioneered an intricate playing style which elevated its status within modern Irish traditional music. Former member of The Chieftains and having recorded with Dolores Keane and Sean Potts.
