The Cultural Significance of Irelands Bodhran
The Irish frame drum bodhran has a diameter of 10-26 inches. Its sides measure three-and-half to eight inches deep. Its head can either be made of greyhound, sheep, goat, calf, deer, or horse skin, although goat is the normal choice. The head is cleaned and treated with the use of a secret process; it is then stretched over a shell, glued, fastened, and dried.
This plain and ancient frame drum can be seen in other including Algeria, China, Egypt, Morocco, and Russia. Native Americans of North America also use a frame drum. Irelands frame drum is distinctive, even though frame drums in other countries bear a resemblance to the Irish version in appearance and technique.
One to two bars of a crosspiece are placed inside the shell. The crosspiece makes it easier to grip the bodhran, making it possible for the player to play it and walk at the same time. This is important because the Irish frame drum plays a significant role in Irish festivals.
Every year on Dec. 26 during St. Stephens Day, Wren Boys move a wren from house to house, playing the bodhran and 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 and recording studios in Ireland, players recognized that the crosspiece was not required anymore, as they came up with new techniques minus the crosspiece.
A double-ended stick called a cipin or tipper is used to play the frame drum. This use of the cipin and the playing methods are what make the Irish frame drum distinctive. Most frame drums are played using only the bare 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 mean tray, deafening, thundered, or dull sounding. While using this skin tray, people soon took notice of the soft rhythmic sound made by it and from there the frame drum was developed. The Roman overlords of the ancient Celts may have brought with them a form of frame drum from the Middle East that became the bodhran. - 18758
This plain and ancient frame drum can be seen in other including Algeria, China, Egypt, Morocco, and Russia. Native Americans of North America also use a frame drum. Irelands frame drum is distinctive, even though frame drums in other countries bear a resemblance to the Irish version in appearance and technique.
One to two bars of a crosspiece are placed inside the shell. The crosspiece makes it easier to grip the bodhran, making it possible for the player to play it and walk at the same time. This is important because the Irish frame drum plays a significant role in Irish festivals.
Every year on Dec. 26 during St. Stephens Day, Wren Boys move a wren from house to house, playing the bodhran and 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 and recording studios in Ireland, players recognized that the crosspiece was not required anymore, as they came up with new techniques minus the crosspiece.
A double-ended stick called a cipin or tipper is used to play the frame drum. This use of the cipin and the playing methods are what make the Irish frame drum distinctive. Most frame drums are played using only the bare 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 mean tray, deafening, thundered, or dull sounding. While using this skin tray, people soon took notice of the soft rhythmic sound made by it and from there the frame drum was developed. The Roman overlords of the ancient Celts may have brought with them a form of frame drum from the Middle East that became the bodhran. - 18758
About the Author:
A Bodhran originates from Ireland and is made up of goatskin to produce a distinctive sound of music. It is similar to a drum but it is open on the other side and many musicians have tried to integrate modern type of music with this musical instrument. Simply visit this site at http://www.yourworldinstruments.com to know more about it.
posted by X - Men at
4:49 AM
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