I'm an historical reenactor of the 1770's. Are there any specific books, sites, or information on the use of the bodhran in that time period in England, Ireland or the Colonies/States? Names of tunes that would have been popular or well-known at that time? Rev. War is my game and rural Pennsylvania is where my character is from.
Contrary to the Colin Hamilton thing i posted in another thread, Eric Cunninghan writing in "The Companion to Irish Traditional Music" says that the bodhran only gained popularity in playing this music in the 1960s. He quotes Micheal O'Suilleabhain saying: "If you go back a small bit, the bodhran was played one day a year. All the old lads I talked to alround 1970/71 said told me 'you take out the bodhran any day of the year other than 26 December and you're mad. It's like wearing shamrock on the First of June.'" I'd say, one day a year seems to be a good rule of thumb for bodhran in sessions.
26 December has to do with pre-Christian rituals of wren hunting.
I heartily recommnd this book. It goes under Fintan Vallely, editor, and it's worth the price.
Lynn, Glauber, Zina: Thank you much! If the bodhran doesn't fit my time period, it doesn't fit. But, some of the tunes and songs may have been here what with all the Irish immigration, especially to Maryland. I appreciate the heads-up!
Glauber - I recall it was the Wren which flew out from a bush, revealing St. Steven hiding there to some Roman soldiers who were searching for him.
Thus, as revenge, the wren is "hunted" in the "Hunting the Wren" affair by the Wren Boys (or Ran Boys) on St. Steven's Day (in Ireland) 26th December, as you correctly stated, which is called Boxing Day here.
There may be some pre-christian pagan element to it, though, as there is for most of these processions. I believe they actually used to use a live, sorry, dead wren for this.
And they do use an assortment of home made Bodhrans, plus the odd box, flute or fiddle, and I am told it is the source of the "modern" Bodhran, popularised by Sean O'Riada in the 1960's.
I went on one once in West Limerick, where they went around all the local houses, and it was a noisy, good-natured, drunken affair, but not particularly musical.
We were in Ireland near Limerick two Boxing Days past. The restaurant we were eating in was being plagued by painted-up kids who would dash in, sing a quick two or three phrases of a song, shove a hopeful box marked "tips" at the table of diners and then run out, chased by the manager, who finally threatened to call the police if they didn't go away. We thought it was funny.
I am in a band that does 18th Century music, "The Itinerant Band". (www.itinerantband.com) I haven't found anything that specifically mentions the bodhran however, in almost all the paintings of musical groups of that time period there is a drum of some sort pictured. Especially in the paintings of the lower classes, which we portray. These paintings are what I use to justify my playing of the bodhran in our group.
Linda, I'm also looking for tunes that would have been played, or at least were known during the colonial days.
Best I know so far are first publication dates for a couple of tunes: Langston's Pony was first published in 1720's. Irishwasherwoman first published in 1790's (thought to be much older); Fisher's Hornpipe in 1978. These dates were in a book of tunes for dancers learning Colonial-era dances. Can't remember the name of the book at the moment.
I also assume that theoretically, all of O'Carolyn's music could have been known in Colonial America. His would have been new for the times.
If you are looking for authentic period music of the 18th and 19th centuries go to my site at http://www.beafifer.com , There are a lot of nteresting stories to go with many of the tunes.
18th Century (specifically 1770's)
18th Century (specifically 1770's)
I'm an historical reenactor of the 1770's. Are there any specific books, sites, or information on the use of the bodhran in that time period in England, Ireland or the Colonies/States? Names of tunes that would have been popular or well-known at that time? Rev. War is my game and rural Pennsylvania is where my character is from.
# Posted on January 18th 2003 by linda
Re: 18th Century (specifically 1770's)
Alice once posted a list of tunes popular around the time...let me see if I can find it again.
Zina
# Posted on January 18th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: 18th Century (specifically 1770's)
Aha. It's the same post as Will's common session tune list. The tunes are from the 1720's though, I think, and were popular in Dublin. http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/110
zls
# Posted on January 18th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: 18th Century (specifically 1770's)
Contrary to the Colin Hamilton thing i posted in another thread, Eric Cunninghan writing in "The Companion to Irish Traditional Music" says that the bodhran only gained popularity in playing this music in the 1960s. He quotes Micheal O'Suilleabhain saying: "If you go back a small bit, the bodhran was played one day a year. All the old lads I talked to alround 1970/71 said told me 'you take out the bodhran any day of the year other than 26 December and you're mad. It's like wearing shamrock on the First of June.'" I'd say, one day a year seems to be a good rule of thumb for bodhran in sessions.
26 December has to do with pre-Christian rituals of wren hunting.
I heartily recommnd this book. It goes under Fintan Vallely, editor, and it's worth the price.
# Posted on January 18th 2003 by glauber
Re: 18th Century (specifically 1770's)
The following site has loads of information on music of this period in America and a comprehensive tune list/index:
http://www.colonialmusic.org
# Posted on January 18th 2003 by Lynn W
Re: 18th Century (specifically 1770's)
Lynn, Glauber, Zina: Thank you much! If the bodhran doesn't fit my time period, it doesn't fit. But, some of the tunes and songs may have been here what with all the Irish immigration, especially to Maryland. I appreciate the heads-up!
# Posted on January 18th 2003 by linda
Re: 18th Century (specifically 1770's)
Glauber - I recall it was the Wren which flew out from a bush, revealing St. Steven hiding there to some Roman soldiers who were searching for him.
Thus, as revenge, the wren is "hunted" in the "Hunting the Wren" affair by the Wren Boys (or Ran Boys) on St. Steven's Day (in Ireland) 26th December, as you correctly stated, which is called Boxing Day here.
There may be some pre-christian pagan element to it, though, as there is for most of these processions. I believe they actually used to use a live, sorry, dead wren for this.
And they do use an assortment of home made Bodhrans, plus the odd box, flute or fiddle, and I am told it is the source of the "modern" Bodhran, popularised by Sean O'Riada in the 1960's.
I went on one once in West Limerick, where they went around all the local houses, and it was a noisy, good-natured, drunken affair, but not particularly musical.
# Posted on January 18th 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: 18th Century (specifically 1770's)
We were in Ireland near Limerick two Boxing Days past. The restaurant we were eating in was being plagued by painted-up kids who would dash in, sing a quick two or three phrases of a song, shove a hopeful box marked "tips" at the table of diners and then run out, chased by the manager, who finally threatened to call the police if they didn't go away. We thought it was funny.
Zina
# Posted on January 19th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: 18th Century (specifically 1770's)
I am in a band that does 18th Century music, "The Itinerant Band". (www.itinerantband.com) I haven't found anything that specifically mentions the bodhran however, in almost all the paintings of musical groups of that time period there is a drum of some sort pictured. Especially in the paintings of the lower classes, which we portray. These paintings are what I use to justify my playing of the bodhran in our group.
# Posted on January 19th 2003 by McBodhran
Re: 18th Century (specifically 1770's)
I'm still reading your interesting and helpful posts. Thank you for your input.
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by linda
Re: 18th Century (specifically 1770's)
Linda, I'm also looking for tunes that would have been played, or at least were known during the colonial days.
Best I know so far are first publication dates for a couple of tunes: Langston's Pony was first published in 1720's. Irishwasherwoman first published in 1790's (thought to be much older); Fisher's Hornpipe in 1978. These dates were in a book of tunes for dancers learning Colonial-era dances. Can't remember the name of the book at the moment.
I also assume that theoretically, all of O'Carolyn's music could have been known in Colonial America. His would have been new for the times.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Rayzore
Re: 18th Century (specifically 1770's)
If you are looking for authentic period music of the 18th and 19th centuries go to my site at http://www.beafifer.com , There are a lot of nteresting stories to go with many of the tunes.
# Posted on February 9th 2003 by ewboyle