Hello folks !
I am french, I play Bodhran, whistle and timber and I wanted to discuss a little about the great irish drum. If people here play Malachy Kearns' Bodhràns, what do they thing about their drums.
Personnaly, I thing they may be the best, as they (tunable drums) offer a very impressive and primitive sound which becomes very loud with the age of the drum.
Slàn go foill
ken ar c'hentan
Malachy Kearns bodhrans are indeed excellent. He's not the only person making tuneable bodhran's though... some others you might want to hear are Padraig McNeela, Eamon Maguire, Vignoles, Mance Grady, Albert Alfonso, Brendan White,Belgarth,McDaid, Rohan Young (dodecahedronal as well as round drums) and the inimitable Seamus O'Kane - the best in my opinion, having been playing on various bodhrans for 21 of my 28 years. All of the above are responsible for superb instruments, some more consistently than others. Of course it depends on which kind of skin you prefer - hard or pliable, and whether you like bassy sounds or treble. For example Belgarth bodhrans have quite thick skins which makes them ideal if you have problems with a humid climate, whereas O'Kane bodhrans generally have hard, tight skins which give you a great range of tones. At the minute I play a tuneable McNeela but will be getting my hands on an O'Kane when Seamus has the time, and one from a friend of mine, Rohan Young, whose drums look and sound beautiful.
Albert Alfonso is quite good. IT seems that he knows everybody and gets invited up when they perform. His drums are rather interesting. For the most part, the body is deeper than your generic Bodhran. Next - there are no crossbars. I'm not sure what his exact philosophy on that is but his drums don't need the crossbars to keep the drum shape and they get in the way for playing purposes.
One of my friends made a joke about how selective Albert is with his Clientele. Only people with enough money can buy one. He is held in high regard around here. I believe he's a real easy one to find on the search engines.
The way he get's his drums to keep their shape is that he uses layers of wood rather than one single round piece - this makes for a much stronger structure. It's cool that he simply doesn't make the crossbar (with mine you have an option - you can take it out.); it means that the player is forced to put their other hand on the back of the skin to keep a hold on the drum which of course deadens the sound. I've lost count of the number of times I've winced when some yahoo holds the drum by the crosssbar and beats the bejaysus out of it.
Any other thoughts pro or anti crossbars on bodhrans?
Hello there ! lots of thanks for your answers
Hi Conan
Last summer I was in Galway during the Arts Festival and all the bodhranists played Vignoles bodhràns. I had the chance to try one during a seisùn, it had no crossbar and it had a great variety of sounds so that you could almost use it as a bass.
When you use a bodhràn without to touch (ex crossbar) the skin you can create a kind of drone, you obtain a very primitive and "pagan" sound as say Malachy Kearns. By the way Alan Stivell, the great harpist from Britanny, uses on one of his recordings (cf.: Cease fire / album Brian Boru) 3 bodhràns on "The Maids of Mount Cisko" (one is played by Peadar Mercier) : one is used as a drone, one "normally" and the third for special effects (rim playing...).
Any other pro or anti thoughts on rim playing and crossbars ?
Demat tud !
Yesterday night I was hearing the band Kila in Rennes, Brittanny (Breizh eo ma bro !), the percussive element of their music is just amazing ( bodhràns, darabuka, djembes...). You should hear them http://www.kila.ie
Ronan from Kila uses different kinds of bodhràns and an infinite variety of tippers (jazzy brush, long/court sticks...)
Kenavo, ken ar c'hentan
Slàn
Hello, Nancy from Denver here, new to the list. I found this discussion group when searching for info on Seamus O'Kane. Does anyone know how to reach him, i.e., by email? I have a phone number which I believe is his, but I just get an "engaged" message. I'd like to order one of his drums. I am the proud player of a tuneable drum made by Dave Spencer in Doolin, Co. Clare, who I had the good fortune of meeting when I was there in August '98! He makes an awesome drum, and they're very affordable.
Information on Seamus O'Kane, bodhran maker from Dungiven, County Derry in the North of Ireland can be found at his official web site at: http://www.tradcentre.com/seamus
Hello! Just opening up an old thread to mention I've just got a Seamus O'Kane drum. Moved over to this from a Malakey Kearns standard fixed-skin. That drum's been great for a few years but there's the inevitable occassion when humidity makes it unplayably saggy. So for practical purposes and on recommendation I went for Seamus's. And what a revelation it's been! So much more fascinating tonal variation when you tune it right! I'm going to enjoy this learning-curve!
Bodhràn making
Bodhràn making
Hello folks !
I am french, I play Bodhran, whistle and timber and I wanted to discuss a little about the great irish drum. If people here play Malachy Kearns' Bodhràns, what do they thing about their drums.
Personnaly, I thing they may be the best, as they (tunable drums) offer a very impressive and primitive sound which becomes very loud with the age of the drum.
Slàn go foill
ken ar c'hentan
# Posted on July 1st 2002 by kolaz333
Re: Bodhràn making
Hi
Malachy Kearns bodhrans are indeed excellent. He's not the only person making tuneable bodhran's though... some others you might want to hear are Padraig McNeela, Eamon Maguire, Vignoles, Mance Grady, Albert Alfonso, Brendan White,Belgarth,McDaid, Rohan Young (dodecahedronal as well as round drums) and the inimitable Seamus O'Kane - the best in my opinion, having been playing on various bodhrans for 21 of my 28 years. All of the above are responsible for superb instruments, some more consistently than others. Of course it depends on which kind of skin you prefer - hard or pliable, and whether you like bassy sounds or treble. For example Belgarth bodhrans have quite thick skins which makes them ideal if you have problems with a humid climate, whereas O'Kane bodhrans generally have hard, tight skins which give you a great range of tones. At the minute I play a tuneable McNeela but will be getting my hands on an O'Kane when Seamus has the time, and one from a friend of mine, Rohan Young, whose drums look and sound beautiful.
Kennavo
Conán McDonnell
# Posted on July 1st 2002 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Bodhràn making
Albert Alfonso is quite good. IT seems that he knows everybody and gets invited up when they perform. His drums are rather interesting. For the most part, the body is deeper than your generic Bodhran. Next - there are no crossbars. I'm not sure what his exact philosophy on that is but his drums don't need the crossbars to keep the drum shape and they get in the way for playing purposes.
One of my friends made a joke about how selective Albert is with his Clientele. Only people with enough money can buy one. He is held in high regard around here. I believe he's a real easy one to find on the search engines.
# Posted on July 2nd 2002 by Mark Cordova
Re: Bodhràn making
Hi Mark
The way he get's his drums to keep their shape is that he uses layers of wood rather than one single round piece - this makes for a much stronger structure. It's cool that he simply doesn't make the crossbar (with mine you have an option - you can take it out.); it means that the player is forced to put their other hand on the back of the skin to keep a hold on the drum which of course deadens the sound. I've lost count of the number of times I've winced when some yahoo holds the drum by the crosssbar and beats the bejaysus out of it.
Any other thoughts pro or anti crossbars on bodhrans?
Conán
# Posted on July 2nd 2002 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Bodhràn making
I have to agree that Seamus O'Kane's are the best.
# Posted on July 3rd 2002 by searai
Pulse of the Ceol
Hello there ! lots of thanks for your answers
Hi Conan
Last summer I was in Galway during the Arts Festival and all the bodhranists played Vignoles bodhràns. I had the chance to try one during a seisùn, it had no crossbar and it had a great variety of sounds so that you could almost use it as a bass.
When you use a bodhràn without to touch (ex crossbar) the skin you can create a kind of drone, you obtain a very primitive and "pagan" sound as say Malachy Kearns. By the way Alan Stivell, the great harpist from Britanny, uses on one of his recordings (cf.: Cease fire / album Brian Boru) 3 bodhràns on "The Maids of Mount Cisko" (one is played by Peadar Mercier) : one is used as a drone, one "normally" and the third for special effects (rim playing...).
Any other pro or anti thoughts on rim playing and crossbars ?
# Posted on July 3rd 2002 by kolaz333
Re: Bodhràn making
I prefer the sound without the crossbar- i Love those great runs that can be done - you'know - they start at the top and get lower and lower.
# Posted on July 3rd 2002 by bb
Pulse of the Ceol
Demat tud !
Yesterday night I was hearing the band Kila in Rennes, Brittanny (Breizh eo ma bro !), the percussive element of their music is just amazing ( bodhràns, darabuka, djembes...). You should hear them http://www.kila.ie
Ronan from Kila uses different kinds of bodhràns and an infinite variety of tippers (jazzy brush, long/court sticks...)
Kenavo, ken ar c'hentan
Slàn
# Posted on July 3rd 2002 by kolaz333
Re: Bodhràn making
Hello, Nancy from Denver here, new to the list. I found this discussion group when searching for info on Seamus O'Kane. Does anyone know how to reach him, i.e., by email? I have a phone number which I believe is his, but I just get an "engaged" message. I'd like to order one of his drums. I am the proud player of a tuneable drum made by Dave Spencer in Doolin, Co. Clare, who I had the good fortune of meeting when I was there in August '98! He makes an awesome drum, and they're very affordable.
# Posted on July 31st 2002 by nancyf
Re: Bodhràn making
Hi Nancy! Welcome to the list, and when're you going to show up on Sundays with that whistle, for god's sake?
Zina
# Posted on July 31st 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: Bodhràn making
Hot News for (((SEAMUS O'KANE))) bodhran fans!!!
Today see's the launch of his new website at:
http://www.tradcentre.com/seamus
You can contact him directly through the 'contact' link
Murrough
# Posted on September 12th 2002 by Murrough
SEAMUS O'KANE BODHRANS - http://www.tradcentre.com/seamus
Information on Seamus O'Kane, bodhran maker from Dungiven, County Derry in the North of Ireland can be found at his official web site at: http://www.tradcentre.com/seamus
# Posted on September 12th 2002 by Murrough
Re: Bodhràn making
Hello! Just opening up an old thread to mention I've just got a Seamus O'Kane drum. Moved over to this from a Malakey Kearns standard fixed-skin. That drum's been great for a few years but there's the inevitable occassion when humidity makes it unplayably saggy. So for practical purposes and on recommendation I went for Seamus's. And what a revelation it's been! So much more fascinating tonal variation when you tune it right! I'm going to enjoy this learning-curve!
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by greenman