DRUMMING TRADITIONS The Bodhrán is perhaps the most versatile drum in the world, so it has many traditional uses. Some of these traditions are very ancient whilst others have grown up in the last 50 years or so. The main emphasis of this site is in the older traditions, using the drum for purposes other than entertainment. Never the less, it seems reasonable to start with the most easily recognised and popular form of Bodhrán drumming today, drumming for entertainment. The following pages then go on to describe some of the older traditions which may still be found in quiet corners of Britain and Ireland. Drumming for Entertainment The use of the Bodhrán as a simple tool of entertainment is a fairly recent divergence from its traditional spiritual role, and its inclusion in Irish music of the Riverdance ilk only came about in the last 50 years or so. It was ‘The Chieftains’, under the direction of Seán Ó Raida in the late 1950’s, who first introduced the Bodhrán into popular Irish music. Its unique playing style lending itself to the complicated rhythms of Jigs and Reels etc. (It is hard to imagine that a hand drum was not used for accompanyment of traditional music in Britain and Ireland prior to the last century, but unfortunately, if this was the case, the tradition has not survived). However, whilst the form in which we see it now is not a particularly old tradition, it is through this medium that the Bodhrán has gained a resurgence of interest, and so we must be thankful for that. It has also resulted in Bodhrán's being manufactured in such numbers that they are freely available in every corner of the world for comparatively modest sums. Drumming for entertainment and pleasure covers a number of fields, musical accompaniment, drum circles, and personal enjoyment being the main areas. MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT This is by far the most popular form of Bodhrán playing. Devotees turn up in bars and pubs throughout Britain, Ireland, Europe, America and indeed the four corners of the earth, to drum along with whatever folk music is being played. These open sessions are very common in UK and Ireland and anywhere else in the world where Irish or Welsh communities have settled. Sadly many have not actually learned to play the drum before they take part and so the Bodhrán is sometimes not looked upon too kindly. However, with a little coaching and a lot of practice the contribution a bodhrán makes to a session is electric. The reason for this is that the traditional use of percussion in a band is to highlight dance steps. Folk music has dancing at its core and therefore the beat and rhythm is everything with the actual tune taking second place. There are relatively few basic rhythms to learn, the reel, the jig, the hornpipe, and the polka being the most common with some variations thrown in for other dances such as the slip jig and the waltz. More details on the musical rhythms. DRUM CIRCLES These are usually gatherings where drummers get together to have fun, although occasionally there are examples of serious tribal gatherings where the participants try to tap into the collective consciousness of ancient times. Also used in professional circles as team building exercises. Although equally successful with Bodhrán's alone, drum circles generally feature the African Djembe and Samba drums rather than just Bodhrán's. However, both the structured styles of the traditional African drummers and the more emotive freestyle drummers of the ‘Celtic’ traditions can indeed play harmoniously together, although it is quite a challenge to the facilitator to achieve this. PERSONAL ENJOYMENT Perhaps the most important area of Bodhrán playing is its use for just personal enjoyment. To sit and to play for your own pleasure has a very therapeutic effect, and is one of many ways of de-stressing after a hard day.