How Bodhran Music Has Evolved
Over the last seventy years, bodhran music has undergone unprecedented change and adopted influences that transcend traditional Irish music.
Vallely’s book details how, after being used as household containers and winnowing tools for centuries, the bodhran eventually evolved as an instrument used in ritualistic celebrations such as hunting for the wren. Major innovations in playing occurred during the 1970s.
Origins
Although seemingly simple in design, the Bodhran drum boasts intricate rhythmic capabilities that add dimension and interest to any musical genre. Due to its versatility and popularity, this instrument has become an indispensable part of Irish traditional music as well as contemporary international styles like world music, rock, and fusion music.
Though its history stretches back millennia, its modern prominence began during Sean O Riada’s ensemble Ceoltoiri Chualann in the 1960s. Soon thereafter it had become an emblematic representation of Irish tradition.
O Riada’s work inspired a new generation of players to explore the bodhran. Over time, techniques like finger rolls and rim shots emerged while its refinement continued to advance. More recently, virtuoso drummers have expanded its use into global fusion projects and rock. Many musicians utilize innovative bodhrans with tunable drumheads that enable more playing techniques – this makes the bodhran an invaluable addition for bands, orchestras, and film scores today.
Styles
Traditional drummers played directly with their hands; today, however, a stick called a cipin is more commonly employed to facilitate drumming performances. An ideal cipin should fit perfectly within the length of an outstretched thumb to outstretched baby finger; this style of playing is known as Kerry or double-ended style.
Sean O Riada and the Ceoltoiri Chualann group that later evolved into the Chieftains are responsible for this shift in style, employing the bodhran to complement and enhance melody while elevating its status and status to new heights of prestige and respect.
McNeela offers an assortment of tunable bodhrans designed to enhance players’ sound to new heights. Each features a tuning system which enables bodhranists to adjust the skin depending on atmospheric conditions such as changes in humidity or temperature – helping ensure consistent quality tone over time. Furthermore, McNeela Wave Bodhrans come with either Lambeg or Vellum goatskin options, giving players more timbral options and helping find their unique sound timbre.
Techniques
The bodhran is an accompaniment instrument and should follow the rhythms of music rather than try to drive them like a rock drummer would; rather, its purpose should be to add ornamental layers into its rhythmic patterns while playing along with its melodic progressions.
Doubling downstroke is an effective way of adding additional beats without altering the rhythm, especially for marking highs and lows and creating crisper articulation.
The Bodhran is used in Irish folk music to mark the beat of La an Dreoilin (The Wren Boys), an old traditional dance. Dressed in straw outfits and entertaining residents with songs, dancing and stories; likely with Celtic roots as part of an annual festival to honour St Stephen, these mummers would visit house to house entertaining residents with songs, dancing and stories before visiting another house to perform another house to house visit – these mummers now known as Wren Boys often use Bodhrans in informal sessions as well as formal performances alike!
Sound
At one time, drums were struck using only their hands; nowadays players typically employ a stick known as a tipper, beater or cipin to strike the drums. Cipins generally span from player’s hand length with one end attached to frame and other to rim of drum.
Bodhran manufacturers today often cover their rim with electrical tape in order to reduce “edge loading” and dampen unwanted overtones introduced by atmospheric conditions, thus creating higher and lower crisp notes, and encouraging players to be more musical with their approach to the instrument.
Sean O Riada credited with popularizing this ancient frame drum in recent times, thanks to adding it to Ceoltoiri Chualann in the 1960s and adding it to their lineup as part of Sean O Riada’s ensemble Ceoltoiri Chualann ensemble Ceoltoiri Chualann ensemble Ceoltoiri Chualann in concert halls and theaters across Ireland and elsewhere. Peadar Mercier, Tommy Hayes and Johnny Ringo McDonagh have continued improving sound and playing techniques further developed over time.
