The Cultural Significance of Irelands Bodhran by Benedict Perez
Bodhran is the name given to an Irish frame drum that measures 10 to 26 inches in diameter. Its sides are typically three & half to eight inches deep. Its head is made from calf deer goat greyhound horse or sheep skin but goat is the usual choice. Through a secret method the head is cleaned treated then stretched over a shell glued tacked dried.
This is plain ancient type of frame drum that has versions in other countries that include Algeria China Egypt Morocco Russia. In the United States of America Native Americans have their own frame drum. Even though those frame drums from other countries resemble the Irish version in form playing method Irelands frame drum is rather unique.
One or two bars of a crosspiece are traditionally mounted in the shells interior. It is easier to grip the bodhran this way letting players to play it while walking. This is very important because the Irish frame drum plays an important role in the festivals the Irish celebrate.
Every year on Dec. 26 during St. Stephens Day Wren Boys move a wren from house to house playing the bodhran singing as they do it. Sports fans also use this drum while rooting for their favorite clubs. As traditional music moved indoors to concert halls recording studios in Ireland players recognized that the crosspiece was not required anymore as they came up with new techniques minus the crosspiece.
A cipin or a tipper which is double ended stick is used to play the frame drum. The use of this stick playing techniques is the difference between the Irish frame drum from others similar to it. Most frame drums are played using just the hands.
The real origins of the Irish frame drum are not known. One theory is that in ancient Ireland even until the 1950s a sieve or skin tray was utilized in sifting various materials. One of the names given to this skin tray was the bodhran.
In Gaelic it can either mean tray thundered deafening or dull sounding. While using this skin tray people noticed the soft rhythmic sound it made so the drum was developed. Another theory is that the Roman occupiers of the ancient Celts brought with them a form of frame drum form Middle East that eventually became the bodhran.
A Bodhran yourworldinstruments. com bodhran s 22. htm originates from Ireland is made up of goatskin to produce a distinctive sound of music. It is similar to a drum but it open on the other side many musicians have tried to integrate modern type of music with this musical instrument. Simply visit this site at yourworldinstruments. com yourworldinstruments. com to know more about it. The Cultural Significance of Irelands Bodhran
