| I was recently listening to the soundtrack to River | | | | of the bodhran in his music had the effect of |
| Dance. I find that the lack of lyrics in the music | | | | establishing the drum as a legitimate musical |
| makes it useful to listen to while writing. I've listened | | | | instrument. Since then, this drum has gained a |
| to the music dozens of times, yet for some reason, | | | | reasonable amount of popularity in Scotland and |
| I was struck by something new this time: namely, | | | | northern Europe, although it remains most common |
| the prevalence and importance of the drums in the | | | | on its home turf of Ireland. |
| music. Perhaps I never picked up on it before | | | | A bodhran is a frame drum, meaning a drum whose |
| because the sound of all those clogs creates an | | | | diameter is greater than its depth. It can range in |
| overwhelming impression of percussion. Yet if it | | | | diameter from 10 to 26 inches, although most |
| weren't for the drums and their undeniable rhythm, | | | | measure 14 to 18 inches across. The depth can be |
| none of those Irish dancers would be able to find the | | | | anywhere from 3.5 to 8 inches. The instrument is |
| beat. So that made me wonder, exactly how much | | | | open on one side and has a drumhead on the other, |
| of a tradition do drums have in Ireland? | | | | which is traditionally made from the skin of a goat. |
| When it comes to Irish drums, the bodhran pretty | | | | However, as with so many modern versions of |
| much has a corner on the market. Interestingly, this | | | | traditional drums, the drumheads of 21st century |
| instrument's history is a relatively short one, at least | | | | bodhrans are often of synthetic materials. Because |
| as it compares to those of drums in some other | | | | one side of the drum is open, an artist can place his |
| areas of the world. The first definite record of the | | | | hand against the inside of the drumhead, which |
| bodhran's use was only about four hundred years | | | | permits him to control the instrument's pitch and |
| ago, in 1603, when it was used by the Irish during | | | | timbre. |
| their rebellion against the English. Like the taiko drums | | | | Bodhrans are usually played in a seated position. The |
| of Japan, the bodhran was used as a tool of war, | | | | artist holds the drum vertically against his thigh and |
| allowing pipers and warriors alike to maintain a proper | | | | supports it with his upper body and one hand. The |
| marching cadence. It must have been effective | | | | other hand, as mentioned, is placed inside the drum |
| because for the next four centuries, this instrument | | | | to allow for tension control. These drums may be |
| remained the property of warfare and noisemakers. | | | | played with the bare hand, but a traditional drumstick |
| It was not used as an instrument of music until | | | | may also be used. The names of this drumstick |
| modern times. | | | | include "bone," "tipper," "beater," and "cipin." Some |
| In the 1960s, there was a resurgence of popularity in | | | | artists also utilize brushes, but this is a very recent |
| traditional Irish music. This trend was largely due to | | | | advent. There are a wide variety of accepted playing |
| the influence of Sean O Riada, an Irish composer and | | | | styles, and because this is still a relatively "new" |
| bandleader whose compositions did a great deal for | | | | instrument, these are constantly evolving. |
| the international reputation of Irish music. Riada use | | | | |
