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| THE BODHRÁN and its HISTORY. |
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What is a Bodhrán?
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BODHRÁN’ is an Irish word which generally translates as roaring sound or deafening’ although this meaning is not universally accepted. The Bodhrán is an example of a hoop-frame’ drum with a skin on one side. It may have one or more bars on the back, traditionally to keep the frame stable, but nowadays merely for playing purposes. It has become familiar in recent years through its use as a percussive instrument in Irish traditional music, although, in more ancient times it had other uses too.
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It's History
As I understand it, it seems that the musical history of the Bodhrán is quite different from its cultural history. These two separate strands have led to two very divergent forms of drumming.
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A MUSICAL HISTORY.
Drums similar to the Bodhrán may well have been used to accompany music throughout history, but it is only in recent years that this has become the prime use of this remarkable drum. From early recordings in the 1920’s it would seem that the Bodhrán had been usurped by tambourines, bones and spoons as the first choice of percussive accompaniment in Irish and Scottish music. But in the 1950’s there was a resurgence of interest in the Bodhrán
as a simple drum accompaniment.
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The counter claims as to how this came to be and who was first to use it in modern times are now part of Bodhrán folklore. According to one urban myth it seems that we owe the modern rediscovery of the Bodhrán to Seán Ó Riada and his revival of interest in traditional Irish music through Ceoltóirí Chualann, a traditional ensemble he put together in 1960, (which eventually |
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spawned the Chieftains). However, the accordionist Éamon de Buitléar (also a member of Ceoltóirí Chualann) states that its popular modern usage came from its appearance in a play at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin about the same time, and that the drum was in turn a revival of the old mummers’ drum widely used in Kerry in the early 1900’s.
Whatever the truth of the matter, the Bodhrán re-entered modern popular music history in the late 1950’s. Since then it has evolved beyond all recognition, from a simple rhythm piece, into an orchestrated accompaniment capable of seemingly endless tonal ranges and modulations. In the extreme, the bodhrán may now be heard as a solo instrument in its own right, providing one of the highlights of many a folk band or ceilidh group.
A modern development is the adjustable or tunable drum skin. Because a natural skin is absorbent to moisture, excessive humidity or dry conditions may make the skin unplayable. Adjusting the tension of the skin is generally achieved by introducing a loose wooden ring inside the drumhead and forcing it against the skin with tuning screws. The respective floppiness or tininess of the skin can be compensated for by tightening or loosening the skin accordingly.
Perhaps the most dramatic development in bodhrán playing was achieved when drummers began to place their non playing hand inside the drum, and created tonal changes by pressing the skin in various ways. The bodhránii of only a few years ago would hardly recognise the instrument as it is played today.
BEYOND MUSIC
Although the modern Bodhrán may well have become popular only recently, culturally the Bodhrán has existed for many thousands of years and was used for entirely different purposes. It is to these purposes that this website is primarily dedicated.
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