The Bodhran
The Bodhran (pronounced bow-rawn) is an Irish frame drum similar to a tambourine in that it consists of a round wooden frame fitted with an tight goatskin drum head on one side.
Traditional music of this kind was performed using only their hands or an instrument called a cipin, though more sophisticated playing styles have evolved since folk music revival in the 1960s.
Origins
Drums (played with hands or sticks) have long been part of Irish musical life, yet only gained widespread fame during the folk revival in Ireland during the 1960s. Irish composer Sean O Riada elevated bodhran from session kitchens and pubs to concert halls through his groundbreaking works on it.
With the revival of traditional Irish music came an explosion of bodhran players such as Peadar Mercier, Tommy Hayes and Johny Ringo McDonagh to take this instrument to exciting new levels.
Johnny Ringo McDonagh made numerous groundbreaking innovations which vastly expanded the musical vocabulary of the bodhran. One such technique involved adding an internal tone ring that prevents atmospheric conditions from damaging its skin, completely revolutionising how bodhrans are made and played – dampening unwanted overtones while simultaneously decreasing “edge loading”, which could otherwise damage it. This development completely transformed how they are manufactured and played today allowing makers to reduce “edge loading”, thus protecting skin damage.
Construction
A bodhran is a frame drum similar to the tambourine that can be found all over the world. It likely made its way to Ireland through trade routes.
The bodhran first rose to prominence as an instrument during the Irish folk music resurgence of the 1960s, driven by renowned musician Sean O Riada’s band Ceoltoiri Chualann. O Riada pioneered its inclusion into Irish traditional music as an instrument played with hands instead of sticks.
A bodhran is composed of goatskin that has been treated with special chemicals to soften it for use as a drum skin, stretched across a circular wooden frame. To give a secure and neat finish, glueing is preferred; nailing or stapleing would leave visible nails or staples. Loosen the skin enough so it can shrink as it dries, otherwise the resultant sound will have an unpleasant high-pitched tone. A groove is cut into the rim to hold its position.
Tuning
While most bodhrans are non-tuneable, some manufacturers have developed mechanisms which allow for mechanical adjustments of tension and pitch. Tuneable bodhrans utilize an inner ring which can be driven against or pulled away from the skin to change tension/pitch accordingly, effectively changing head tension/pitch.
A bodhran may be struck either using one’s hand or with a stick known as a tipper, beater or cipin. Tippers typically made of hickory require little maintenance but players may apply olive or beeswax oil as needed to enhance and protect its wood finish.
Many bodhran players use water or beer-soaked tippers before playing to instantly and significantly lower the pitch of their sound, deepen the tone and lower pitch simultaneously. Although water may help achieve similar effects more rapidly than beer may do due to its higher alcohol content causing premature dry out of skin and premature drying out; using beer may offer similar results while the high alcohol content could potentially have degenerative effects on skin over time.
Playing
Bodhrans can be played with either hand or stick called a cipin. Recently, makers have begun including mechanical tuning systems utilizing screws that tighten or loosen depending on atmospheric conditions into their instruments for fine-tuning their instruments.
Before the Irish folk music revival of the 1950s and 60s, the bodhran was not widely acknowledged as an instrument. Sean O Riada elevated this humble drum into its current status of being known as “the national drum”.
Over the last century, bodhran players have taken their playing to exciting new heights. Legends such as Christy Moore, Planxty, Flook, Moving Hearts and John Joe Kelly have contributed greatly to its development. Each has his own style but what all possess in common is an ability to ‘play with the beat’ which separates them from average players – listen closely when listening to recordings from these musicians and you will notice subtleties which set them apart from the pack.
