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- By Tyrone Jimenez
Basics of Bodhrans – Irish Drum History
Bodhran drums are one of the central instruments in traditional Irish music and its history is one of innovation and adaption.
The Bodhran is an Irish frame drum with an intense and emotive tone. Reminiscent of its counterpart, the tambourine without its bells attached, it produces an deep and menacing sound when played.
Origin
The Bodhran drum is a frame drum used worldwide. The precise history behind its creation remains unknown; some experts speculate it may have been inspired by tambourines popular throughout southern continental Europe.
Though its roots remain obscure, the bodhran remains an essential component of Irish music today. The instrument experienced significant popularity gains after Sean O Riada introduced it into traditional music circles during the 1960s.
Initially, a tight stretch of skin stretched tightly across one side of a drum produced sound while leaving another open allowed users to alter its pitch with their hand. Over time however, innovative bodhran makers and tippermakers developed new techniques for playing drums while improving its sound.
Construction
Bodhrans are Irish frame drums ranging in diameter from 25 to 65 cm (10-26 in), with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm (14-18 in). Each side of the drum measures 9-20 cm (3 1/2-8 inches). A goatskin head can be attached with glue (synthetic heads or other animal skins may also be used).
One side of a drum is designed with an open-ended design to enable one hand to place against the interior of its drum head to control pitch and timbre, and strikers known as bone, tipper, beater stick or cipin can use their lathe-turned piece of wood as a bone for striking its surface directly or by striking with sticks made out of wooden material crafted on lathes – these instruments allow musicians to experiment freely.
Sound
Bodhran drums produce an unforgettable sound. As frame drums, they can be played either by hand or with sticks (tipper/cipin). Players dampening skin on open sides can alter tonality to achieve greater tonal depth and achieve desired tonality.
Goatskin is the most frequently used skin for drums, while in northern Ireland a specific variety known as Lambeg skin has also become widely utilized.
This drum has a long and distinguished history, dating back to ancient Celtic music and shaping Celtic music across the world. Today it remains an essential instrument in Irish traditional music with prominent players like Peadar Mercier and John Joe Kelly pushing its limits with this dynamic instrument.
Techniques
The Bodhran is a Celtic frame drum. Initially used as an agricultural implement to separate grains into silage granules, Gaelic peasants turned it into an instrument used for musical performances.
A bodhran drum can be played using a beater made up of sticks or mallets. To customize its sound, different techniques such as spinning it around or tipping can be employed when striking it.
Some bodhrans feature adjustable tuning systems inside their drum frames that enable you to customize its pitch in order to play different rhythms.
An additional feature of bodhran drumming is its versatility; players can press their hand against its snare skin in various ways to alter its tone and pitch, creating a wide variety of sounds from urgent taps to melodious ringing beats.
Influences
The Bodhran Drum is an integral component of Irish Folk music. This circular drum with an attached goatskin head has become famous worldwide due to its distinct appearance.
However, its exact origin is still unclear but is believed to have stemmed from ancient history.
The Bodhran drum has become an iconic part of Ireland’s cultural identity. Much of its popularity can be credited to Sean O Riada’s introduction of it into public consciousness during the 1960s.
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