What is a Bodhran?
The Bodhran is a shallow circular frame drum fitted with goatskin heads that can be played either with sticks or hands, offering various pitch and sound characteristics when touched differently on its skin surface. By touching different areas on this instrument you can alter its pitch and sound characteristics accordingly.
Since Sean O’Riada revived it in the 1950s, the bodhran has come a long way and become an intricate musical instrument with innovative ideas.
It is a frame drum
A bodhran is a hand-held frame drum played with a beater. There are two styles for playing it: Kerry/West Limerick style or top-end style.
The modern bodhran has experienced rapid development over the years. Sean O’Raida and Peadar Mercier made significant advancements with Ceoltoiri Chualann/The Chieftains concert hall performances with this instrument during the 1960s.
Over time, Johnny McDonagh revolutionized bodhran playing by creating new techniques such as dampening with his left hand and changing pitch by applying pressure underside of skin. Other pioneering players include Seamus O’Kane who introduced thinner Lambeg skins into bodhrans for increased clarity and musicality.
It is a skin drum
The Bodhran is an ancient and magical drum associated with Irish traditional music. Although its exact source remains elusive, some experts suspect it might have its origins in tambourines popular in southern continental Europe and could have traveled through trade routes into Ireland.
Bodhrans used to primarily be utilized for ritual functions such as St Stephen’s Day wren-hunting rituals and accompanying male musicians playing fiddle and other instruments during Irish music sessions. By the 1950s however, Seamus O’Riada elevated this humble frame drum by creating Ceoltoiri Chualann ensemble to new heights of performance excellence.
Now, the bodhran is an impressively diverse instrument with an extensive sound repertoire. From urgent taps to melodious beats and everything in between, its sounds range from urgent thudding taps to soothing, melodious tones produced by pressure exerted upon its skin’s underside. A musician stands astride the instrument while striking it with a double-ended stick known as a “tipper.” To avoid edge loading or unwanted overtones from happening too frequently on this type of drum rim-loading, its maker typically covers its edges with electrical tape to reduce edge loading or mutes unwanted overtones from occurring when edge loading occurs on drum’s underside skin surface – something no other instrument offers!
It is a hand drum
It is commonly believed that the bodhran first made its debut as a musical instrument during the 1950’s, however there is evidence it may have been in use prior to this date – such as early examples found with bells attached or book excerpts documenting its usage at musical gatherings.
Today’s bodhran has evolved considerably. Played with a stick known as a cipin and sound altered by dampening one side of its skin drum drum, this form of musical expression enables players to play in many styles.
Peadar Mercier, Mel Mercier and Johnny McDonagh have all played significant roles in helping develop and perfect the bodhran as an instrument and playing technique. All have contributed significantly to making it part of Irish traditional music; their names stem from Irish names meaning dull or numb; it is thought that its source may lie somewhere in South Continental Europe before arriving via popular trade routes in Ireland.
It is a tipper drum
The Bodhran is an Irish frame drum which can be played both barehanded or with the use of a tipper stick. Constructed of goat or calf skin stretched over a wooden frame with one or two crossbars (which may be removable) it also comes equipped with an internal tone ring similar to those found on banjos for added versatility.
A well-tuned bodhran can produce an amazing range of sounds, from sharp urgent taps to melodious ringing beats and everything in between. When played by an experienced musician, this instrument can express all kinds of musical feelings such as sobs, joy and martial call to action.
The Bodhran is an integral component of traditional Irish music. Although some drummers may hesitate to incorporate it into sessions, a good bodhran player can add an entirely new dimension to a tune – its popularity has only grown with players like Mel Mercier of Planxty and Peadar Mercier of The Chieftains playing it so expertly.
